By Stella Odueme
The Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) has begun the second phase of its capacity-building programme for system operators, aimed at improving technical competence and reinforcing the safe, secure and reliable management of Nigeria’s national electricity grid.
The programme seeks to equip operators with the expertise needed to navigate the increasing complexities of the power system and respond efficiently to changing operational conditions.
Speaking at the opening of the training, NISO’s Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Abdu Bello Mohammed, described continuous professional development as essential to enhancing the competence and operational preparedness of system operators.
Mohammed noted that NISO’s role as an independent system operator required technical proficiency, sound judgement, discipline, teamwork and an uncompromising commitment to safety.
He said the training was designed to foster a shared operational culture anchored on professionalism, integrity, neutrality, reliability and continuous improvement.
The NISO chief urged participants to broaden their knowledge of the Grid Code, which he described as a key framework governing the duties and responsibilities of system operators.
He also called for active engagement and the exchange of knowledge, saying the effectiveness of the programme would ultimately be assessed by its impact on operations across NISO’s control centres.
Mohammed reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to investing in its system operators, noting that advanced technologies could deliver their full benefits only when backed by skilled and properly trained professionals.
The Executive Director, System Operations, Engr. Nafisatu Ali, also highlighted the vital role of system operators in ensuring the independent, transparent and efficient management of the national electricity grid.
Ali explained that system operators monitor, coordinate and manage the grid to facilitate the safe, secure and economical supply of electricity.
She identified their responsibilities as including real-time grid management, generation and power-flow coordination, load allocation, outage management, emergency response and maintenance planning.
In view of the interconnected nature of Nigeria’s electricity network, the executive director stressed the importance of strong coordination in preserving grid stability.
She urged participants to improve their understanding of voltage and frequency control, outage management, power-flow monitoring, real-time generation-load balancing and coordination between control rooms.
Ali further encouraged the operators to draw lessons from system disturbances and near misses, describing them as valuable opportunities to strengthen operational knowledge and prevent similar incidents.
The Executive Director, Finance and Corporate Services, Babajide Ibironke, stressed the importance of ensuring that the programme produced measurable benefits for both the participants and NISO.
Ibironke said participants would be required to transfer the knowledge gained to their respective teams, in accordance with the organisation’s knowledge-sharing policy.
The training is part of NISO’s wider efforts to build the human capacity needed to support the effective management of Nigeria’s evolving electricity system and improve overall grid reliability.