The Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN) has trained stakeholders from various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) on the adoption of Energy Management Systems (EnMS) to improve industrial energy performance and promote resource-efficient, cleaner production.
The training is part of the Nigerian Industrial Energy Efficiency and Resource Efficient Cleaner Production (NIG IEE/RECP) Project, supported by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).
Speaking at the event, Dr. Musthapha Abdulahi, Director General of ECN, highlighted that the training aims to promote innovation in clean technology solutions and strengthen national industrial energy efficiency policies and regulatory frameworks. This includes the adoption of UNIDO’s Energy Management Systems Standards (EnMS/ESO/ISO 50001) in Nigeria.
“With rising energy prices and the environmental impacts of energy consumption, effective energy management is essential to minimize waste and improve efficiency,” Abdulahi said. “This training provides a systematic framework for establishing policies, processes, and procedures to help organizations achieve energy-saving targets.”
Also speaking at the event, Mr. Oluyomi Banjo, Programme Coordinator for Environment and Energy at UNIDO (Nigeria and ECOWAS), commended ECN’s efforts. He noted that industries account for approximately one-third of global energy consumption and nearly 40% of global CO₂ emissions.
“The need to reduce energy consumption, environmental degradation, and resource depletion is particularly critical in emerging economies like Nigeria,” Banjo said. “Since 1990, global industrial growth has been dominated by emerging markets, particularly India and China, which accounted for over 80% of increased industrial production during this period.”
Banjo highlighted that the project was developed and submitted by UNIDO on behalf of Nigeria under the GEF-6 programming cycle in 2017 and was approved for full implementation in 2020. He noted that this is the first time UNIDO is implementing an integrated Industrial Energy Efficiency and Resource Efficiency and Cleaner Production project.
“In South Africa, UNIDO’s Industrial Energy Efficiency project recently received the ‘Best Project of the Year’ award from the Southern Africa Energy Efficiency Confederation. We hope to achieve similar success in Nigeria,” Banjo added.
He emphasized that the project aims to create a pool of energy management experts in Nigeria, positioning the country as a leader in industrial energy efficiency across Africa and beyond.
