By Izunna Okafor, Awka
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of FirstPower Electricity Distribution Company Limited, Engr. Okechukwu Okafor, alongside key regulators in the electricity sector, was on Friday honoured with a Certificate of Appreciation as the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Southeast Region, convened a high-level stakeholders’ conversation on electricity regulations, billing transparency, and industrial productivity in Awka, the Anambra State capital.
The strategic engagement, held at the Old Government House, Awka, was organized by the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), comprising the Anambra, Enugu and Ebonyi State branches, in collaboration with the Anambra State Government, the Anambra State Electricity Regulatory Commission (ASERC), the Enugu State Electricity Regulatory Commission (EERC), and the Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria (REDAN), Anambra Chapter.
The event brought together major players in the power, manufacturing, commerce and investment sectors to deliberate on the future of electricity regulation, transparency in billing, consumer protection, industrial productivity, investment opportunities, and regional collaboration in the evolving electricity market in the Southeast.
In her welcome address, the Chairman of MAN Southeast Region, Dr. Lady Ada Chukwudozie, lamented the severe impact of rising energy costs, poor electricity supply, and limited access to affordable financing on manufacturers and industries across the Southeast region and Nigeria at large.
Dr. Chukwudozie, who is also the Group Executive Director of the Dozzy Group and Chairman of Keystone Bank Limited, appreciated the Anambra State Government, ASERC, EERC and other stakeholders whose support made the event possible.
She particularly commended the FirstPower MD, Engr. Okechukwu Okafor, for honouring the invitation despite receiving it only a few hours before the programme, describing his attendance as a demonstration of uncommon commitment to the affairs and development of power industry.
According to her, the stakeholders’ conversation was deliberately designed around critical thematic areas including electricity reforms and service delivery, billing transparency, industrial productivity, regulatory safeguards, investment and infrastructure, public-private collaboration, consumer protection, and the future outlook of electricity development in the Southeast.
She emphasized that manufacturers need to clearly understand expected supply hours, service obligations, available consumer protections, dispute resolution mechanisms, and regulatory safeguards within the evolving electricity ecosystem.
“At MAN Southeast, we strongly believe that sustainable reforms can only thrive where there is transparency, accountability, stakeholder engagement, regulatory responsiveness and continuous dialogue,” she said.
She further noted that improved electricity regulation and collaboration among stakeholders would significantly enhance industrial productivity, investor confidence, ease of doing business, job creation and economic growth across the region.
Dr. Chukwudozie also expressed satisfaction with the efforts currently being made by FirstPower, ASERC, EERC and MainPower in improving electricity administration and regulatory oversight within Anambra and Enugu States respectively, but however noted that there are still more works ahead.
Delivering the keynote address, former NERC Chairman, Dr. Sam Amadi, gave a historical overview of Nigeria’s electricity sector and the implications of the decentralization of the power sector under the Electricity Act.
Dr. Amadi, a professor of Law and Director of the Abuja School of Social and Political Thoughts, commended the regulatory commissions in Anambra and Enugu States for what he described as proactive and visionary leadership, expressing optimism that the Southeast could emerge as the region with the most effective electricity market in Nigeria if the current reforms are sustained.
According to him, the decentralization of electricity regulation has placed the destiny of power generation, transmission and distribution largely in the hands of individual states, thereby creating opportunities for innovation, competition, investment and regional industrial expansion.
Prof. Amadi noted that states now possess the authority to establish their own electricity markets, determine tariffs, partner with investors, build industrial clusters and develop mini-grid solutions tailored to their peculiar economic realities.
He, however, criticized the traditional electricity tariff structure where industrial and commercial consumers bear significantly higher costs than residential users, arguing that such a framework ultimately hurts ordinary citizens because manufacturers transfer the increased production costs to consumers (most of whom are ordinary citizens) when selling their products.
He advocated stronger support systems and targeted subsidies for manufacturers, while also stressing the need for quality customer service, effective market regulation, regular stakeholder engagement, and harmonized electricity regulations across the Southeast region.
The keynote speaker also highlighted the enormous economic potential of the Southeast, particularly its strength in human capital development, urging the region to strategically leverage electricity reforms to boost industrial competitiveness and general economic growth.
In his goodwill message, the Chairman of EERC, Engr. Chijioke Okonkwo, emphasized the importance of continuous engagement between electricity regulators and manufacturers, pledging to replicate similar stakeholders’ conversations in Enugu State.
Also speaking, the President of the Anambra Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ACCIMA), Pharm. Uche Apakama, observed that while Anambra continues to witness rapid industrial and commercial growth, stable electricity supply remains a critical factor for sustaining that momentum.
He called on the state to aggressively explore mini-grid solutions capable of complementing supply from the national grid and strengthening power availability for industries and businesses.
On his part, the MD/CEO of T-1 Technologies and former Commissioner for Agriculture and Transport, Hon. Afam Mbanefo described the theme of the event as highly relevant to national development. He highlighted the role of technology-driven systems such as electronic invoicing and automated tax processes in promoting transparency, accountability and operational efficiency among businesses.
Speaking during the interactive session, the MD/CEO of FirstPower, Engr. Okechukwu Okafor, described the programme as timely, enlightening and highly necessary, given the current realities within the electricity sector.
He acknowledged the existence of numerous challenges across the entire electricity value chain, noting that many of the issues predate the current operators in the sector and were previously managed from a highly centralized structure.
The FirstPower boss, however, expressed optimism that the decentralization of the power sector under the 2025 Electricity Act has created greater possibilities for states to independently tackle their electricity challenges.
He particularly commended ASERC for what he described as courageous and strategic efforts to address power sector problems from the roots through regulatory reforms and market restructuring initiatives.
Giving an overview of the electricity value chain and FirstPower’s role within the sector in Anambra State, Engr. Okafor explained that although distribution companies often receive the blame from customers because they are the closest interface with consumers, many of the sector’s core challenges originate from generation and supply limitations.
He identified the sharp decline in electricity generation by GenCos and the resulting reduction in allocations to distribution companies from the national grid as major factors affecting supply across the country.
The FirstPower MD also disclosed that efforts are ongoing to attract private investors into power generation within Anambra State to complement supply from the national grid, leveraging the opportunities created by the Electricity Act which empowers states to generate and regulate electricity within their territories.
According to him, scarcity of power supply and the high cost of power generation remain the biggest obstacles confronting the sector, even as he expressed confidence that several other operational challenges would naturally reduce once those major issues are addressed.
Also speaking, the Chairman of ASERC, Prof. Frank Okafor, applauded the organizers for initiating the conversation, stressing the need for sustained stakeholder engagement in resolving the complexities within the electricity sector.
While acknowledging the enormity of the existing challenges, he expressed optimism that the ongoing reforms and collaborative efforts among regulators, government and private investors would ultimately produce lasting solutions.
Earlier in speaking at the event, Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Mrs. Chiamaka Nnake, said the convergence of regulators, manufacturers, investors and operators around one table was a strong indication that practical solutions to the electricity crisis were gradually emerging.
She commended the efforts of ASERC and EERC towards reforming the sector, while urging accelerated implementation of the ongoing plans and policies aimed at repositioning electricity supply in the region. She, however, advocated interim support mechanisms capable of cushioning the effect of energy challenges on manufacturers while long-term reforms are being implemented.
According to her, several investors and companies had already engaged the Anambra State Government on electricity-related investments and partnerships, including Shell Petroleum, which recently held strategic discussions with the state on power solutions.
She, however, identified funding and capital requirements as major bottlenecks slowing down electricity infrastructure development, while assuring that the state government remains committed to partnering with genuine investors willing to establish power projects in Anambra.
The event also featured extensive deliberations on electricity metering, billing transparency, service band classifications, customer obligations and accountability mechanisms, during which the various concerns and questions raised by event organizers and participants were extensively addressed by the FirstPower MD, the ASERC Chairman, the EERC Chairman, and the keynote speaker.
Others who spoke at the event included Life Vice President of NACCIMA, Mr. Humphrey Ngonadi; former President of OCCIMA, Sir Chris Ukachukwu; current President of OCCIMA, Mr. Chinedu Nwonu, among others.
Highpoints of the event included the presentation of Award and Certificate of Appreciation to the Keynote Speaker, as well as presentation of Certificates of Appreciation to the MD/CEO of FirstPower Electricity Distribution Company Limited, ASERC Chairman, and the EERC Chairman, by the organizers of the event, in recognition of their contributions towards electricity sector reforms, stakeholder engagement, regulatory advancement, and industrial development within the Southeast region.
More photos from the event:
