By Chiagoziem Abosi
Edited by Bababunmi Agbebi
For many young people in Ikeja, finding a job often feels like a full-time job on its own.
Graduates move from one interview to another. Some have learned digital skills. Others have taken up side hustles just to make ends meet. Yet, many are still searching for an opportunity that offers more than temporary income.
That is why the Federal Government’s newly launched Power Force initiative could be worth paying attention to.
President Bola Tinubu has unveiled the programme to train 5,000 young Nigerians in smart electricity meter installation and related technical skills as part of the nationwide rollout of smart meters. The initiative, which will be implemented through the Presidential Metering Initiative (PMI) in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, aims to tackle Nigeria’s metering gap while creating employment opportunities for young people.
For youths in Ikeja, where many businesses, residential estates and commercial hubs depend on reliable electricity, the programme represents more than another government announcement. It could become a pathway into one of Nigeria’s growing technical industries.
Successful participants will undergo hands-on training delivered by the National Power Training Institute of Nigeria (NAPTIN), while certification will be supervised by the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA). Upon completion, trainees are expected to be linked with electricity distribution companies, meter providers and other industry partners for employment opportunities.
Beyond creating jobs, the programme also supports Nigeria’s push to reduce estimated billing through wider deployment of smart meters. For many households and businesses in Ikeja, estimated electricity bills remain a source of frustration. Expanding access to properly installed meters could improve billing transparency and consumer confidence in the electricity sector.
Applications for the first cohort are scheduled to open on July 4 and will remain open for two weeks before the first training begins in Abuja, after which the programme will expand across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
For many young people, the biggest question is no longer whether jobs exist, but whether they possess the skills employers are looking for. Programmes like Power Force seek to bridge that gap by combining technical training with recognised certification and direct industry connections.
Whether it ultimately delivers on that promise will become clearer as implementation begins. But for thousands of young Nigerians, including those in Ikeja searching for practical career opportunities, this could be one opportunity worth exploring.
Would you apply for this programme if you met the requirements? Or do you think government-backed skills programmes rarely translate into real jobs? Share your thoughts in the comments, and follow IkejaBird Media for more stories that matter to Ikeja residents.
