For Nigeria to meet the projection of 40,000 megawatts of electricity by the year 2020, at least 1,200 well trained graduate engineers must be turned out yearly starting now.

The Director-General of the National Power Training Institute of Nigeria, Mr Reuben Okeke made this projection at a meeting with the Registrar of the Council for the regulation of engineering in Nigeria, Mr Felix Atume.

Mr Okeke said the present abysmal performance of graduate engineers turned out of Nigeria’s tertiary institutions cannot give the country the needed boost in the power sector unless the quality is improved.

He said about N1.8 million is required to produce one adequately skilled graduate engineer over a one year period, a task the  National Power Training Institute would undertake once they are fully equipped and ready to commence training.

He further revealed that about N15 billion has been earmarked for the development of infrastructure at the permanent site of the power training institute established in 2009 with the mandate to develop human capital in the power sector.