The milestone ceremony, held at the Egbin Power Clubhouse, brought together community leaders, parents, teachers, the management team of Egbin Power and beneficiaries to recognise and reward academic excellence across its host communities.

Speaking at the event, Mokhtar Bounour, the chief executive officer of Egbin Power Plc, noted that the scholarship scheme, which began a decade ago, has transformed the lives of children in host communities by easing the financial burden on parents while providing opportunities for students to pursue quality education.

“This 10th edition of the Egbin Power Scholarship reaffirms our decade-long commitment to education and community development. By investing in these young scholars, we are not only empowering their future but also strengthening the foundation for sustainable growth in our host communities and Nigeria at large,” he said.

According to Bounour, the Scholarship has grown beyond just being a CSR initiative, into a true symbol of Egbin Power’s deep bond with its host communities.

Marking the 10th edition reinforces the shared belief that empowering children through education is the strongest investment in their future and in the collective progress of the community.

“For ten years, the Egbin Power Scholarship has stood as a pillar of our CSR commitment to education and empowerment. We are proud of the impact it has made, and this 10th edition renews our pledge to continue driving initiatives that uplift lives and create lasting value for society”, he noted.

The Egbin Power Scholarship Programme, introduced in 2015, has consistently rewarded pupils and students who demonstrate exceptional academic performance.

Beyond financial support, the program includes mentorship and a scholarship bootcamp designed to equip beneficiaries with life skills, discipline, and confidence to excel in their educational journey.

A parent of one of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Ebuzome Ekene, expressed gratitude to the GenCo for sustaining the initiative over the years.

“This scholarship has lifted a huge burden off many families. Beyond the financial relief, it gives our children the confidence to aim higher, knowing that their community and Egbin stand solidly behind them,” she said.

Similarly, Kareem Opeyemi, a student beneficiary, expressed appreciation to Egbin Power Plc for providing the scholarship to students. According to him, the scholarship was a dream come true.

He said:

“This award motivates me to study harder, focus on improving myself and sustaining the scholarship so as to become a future leader who will make my community proud.”

This year, the bootcamp concluded with the final selection of beneficiaries for the 10th edition, reflecting Egbin Power’s sustained efforts to inspire and nurture the next generation of leaders. The programme continues to enjoy strong participation and support from parents, teachers, and community leaders who serve as custodians of the children’s progress.

Egbin Power has remained at the forefront of corporate social responsibility initiatives in education, healthcare, youth empowerment, and community infrastructure. Through these initiatives, the company has demonstrated that its role goes beyond power generation to include empowering people and uplifting communities.

The scholarship award ceremony was not only a celebration of academic achievement but also a reaffirmation of Egbin Power’s enduring partnership with its host communities.

The company pledged to continue investing in impactful programmes that align with its vision of building a brighter and more sustainable future.

The conference, held in Ikeja, Lagos, under the theme “Powering Nigeria’s Energy Future: Bridging the Gap Between Ambition and Action,” brought together key stakeholders, industry leaders, and policy experts to deliberate on actionable pathways for powering Nigeria’s energy future.

Speaking at the high-level gathering, Bounour described the conversations as bold, honest, and forward-thinking, highlighting the need for a united front to tackle the challenges within the electricity sector.

He said: “While compliance with health and safety standards comes first in generating electricity safely, our actions and commitment to providing adequate and reliable electricity to power industries, hospitals, strategic institutions, schools, and homes will enhance socio-economic development in Nigeria.

“Our collective actions and collaborations among players across generations, transmission, and distribution will catalyse improvement of the current situation we have now.  We have explored how collaboration can unlock transformative investments, improve liquidity, and accelerate the adoption of cutting-edge technologies that will drive operational excellence,” Bounour noted.

He emphasised that the path forward must focus on efficiency, strategic partnerships, and the adoption of innovative solutions to enhance power generation and distribution in Nigeria.

“The challenges ahead are real, but so is our shared determination,” Bounour noted. He explained that he is inspired by the commitment to driving meaningful change in our industry.

Speaking further, Bounour pointed out the importance of stakeholder collaboration and regulatory support in transforming the sector.

He reiterated Egbin’s readiness to partner across value chains to drive results, noting that the company continuously invests in innovation and operational upgrades to meet Nigeria’s growing energy demand.

“We are further driven by our commitment to real progress and turning our vision into results by building a truly sustainable energy ecosystem,” Bounour shared.

According to him, “the road to a brighter energy future requires our collaboration, and I believe that together, we can close the gap between where we are and where we need to be. The future of Nigeria’s energy sector is not a dream. It is a mission, let’s power it together,” Bounour affirmed.

The Shell Power Conference also featured interactive presentations, insightful industry analysis, networking opportunities, as well as impactful discussions focused on driving positive development in the sector.

The event concluded with a call to action for all stakeholders to align their ambitions with concrete steps, ensuring a resilient and inclusive energy future for Nigeria.

The House Committee, led by Hamisu Ibrahim, the chairman, conveyed this commitment during an oversight visit to the plant, noting that partnering with the stakeholders in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) is necessary to achieve improved power generation.

The visiting lawmakers, accompanied by Mr. Ayo Gbeleyi, the director general, Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), and his team, were received by Mokhtar Bounour, the CEO of Egbin Power, and members of the management team.

The Committee was given an overview of the plant and later accompanied on a tour of the facility. Other members of the Committee on the facility tour included Abdulmaleek Danga, Shehu Dalhatu, Ifeoluwa Ehindero, Sa’ad Wada Taura, and Ganiyu Ayuba.

During a presentation to the House Committee, Bounour emphasised that Egbin Power remains committed to providing stable and reliable power generation to drive socio-economic progress in Nigeria.

However, some constraints impact the company’s operations, which in turn affect its ability to operate at optimal capacity.

“Power is an essential utility that drives socio-economic progress. That is why we are focused on delivering best-in-class service, bringing energy to life responsibly in line with global best practices. Since the takeover, Egbin Power has continuously invested in the plant, our people, and the environment.

“To enable us to operate more efficiently, we have significantly enhanced our health and safety measures, upgraded our Distributed Control System for five units, ensured capacity building and development for our staff, provided a conducive work environment for our employees, and created sustainable initiatives that promote good health and support biodiversity, among other major investments made by the management over years,” Bounour explained.

He further noted that the GenCo will continue to drive operational excellence and sustainable growth through innovative solutions and technology.

Ibrahim mentioned that the essence of the visit was to understand the challenges facing the GenCo and subsequently explore ways to improve its effectiveness and efficiency.

He noted that the issues highlighted by Egbin Power were similar to those affecting other generation companies.

He stated that performance in the power sector will improve when challenges are carefully addressed through deliberation and collaboration with other stakeholders.

The chairman further commended Egbin Power for its commitment to national service.

He said,

“We are impressed with the operations of Egbin Power Plant. We will do everything possible at the National Assembly level to partner with Egbin Power to improve its performance.”

While giving his remarks, Mr. Gbeleyi applauded the management and staff of the GenCo for their efficiency and continuous effort towards delivering reliable electricity supply to drive the economy.

He said,

“Great job being done by the Board, management, and entire staff of Egbin Power Plant in terms of best practice, technical excellence, and operational sustainability. Without a doubt, this is more than a commendable effort considering the plant’s contribution to national growth and economic development, particularly in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI). Bravo, and keep the flag flying.”

The certifications underscore the GenCo’s unwavering commitment to high operational standards and quality management systems,

The certifications are ISO 45001:2018 (Occupational Health & Safety Management System), ISO 14001:2015 (Environment Management System), and ISO 9001:2015 (Quality Management System).

According to the GenCo, the certifications further endorsed the management’s dedication to exceptional operations and processes.

Mokhtar Bounour, the chief executive officer of Egbin Power, described the certification as a pivotal achievement for Egbin Power, as it further strengthens its position as a responsible corporate organisation and demonstrates the company’s commitment to creating a safe and healthy work environment, implementing environmentally friendly initiatives, and delivering best-in-class service in the power sector.

“This certification is a testament to our robust compliance with global best practices, as we implement and adhere to the highest standards in our operations, and also establish a comprehensive framework for managing occupational health and safety, environmental impacts, and quality processes,” Bounour said.

Speaking further, he reaffirmed that Egbin Power remains steadfast in its pursuit of excellence and will continue to invest in initiatives that enhance its performance in the power sector, noting that the company is committed to leveraging these certifications to drive continuous improvement and create sustainable value for all stakeholders.

According to the Genco, the ISO 45001:2018 certification validates Egbin Power’s robust occupational health and safety management system, ensuring the well-being of its employees and contractors. The ISO 14001:2015 certification recognizes the company’s commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainable practices, while the ISO 9001:2015 certification underscores Egbin Power’s dedication to delivering consistent, high-quality services.

Julius Akpong, the head of Quality, Health, Safety, and Environment (QHSE), Egbin Power, said the company has a deeply entrenched safety culture and effective management system that guide employees and the company’s operations, thereby ensuring excellence at all times.

“At Egbin Power, we have instituted a structured approach to occupational safety management over the years, while upholding workplace safety not just as a priority but as part of our core value, which affirms our Safety culture, Professionalism, Integrity & Discipline as well as  Commitment to Stakeholders, Environmental Consciousness and Sustainability).

“We continuously standardise our processes and procedures as part of the effort towards strengthening operational safety and ensuring due diligence. Our focus has been the safety of people, equipment, environment, and materials, thereby leading to improved governance, enhanced operational excellence, and sustainability,” Akpong explained.

Egbin Power Plc is Nigeria’s largest power generation company, committed to providing reliable and sustainable electricity to the nation. With a focus on operational excellence and environmental responsibility, the company is driving the country’s power sector towards a brighter future.

The newly built 5-bed ICU will further increase capacity for critical patient care and advance emergency response capabilities in Lagos State.

While commissioning the facility, Egbin Power and Sahara Group Foundation emphasized that the initiative underscores their commitment to promoting access to quality critical healthcare services, in line with the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3 which aims to “ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for people of all ages.”

Speaking during the handover ceremony, the CEO of Egbin Power, Mokhtar Bounour, emphasized that the donation was a testament to the company’s enduring commitment to the development of the host communities, noting that the ICU would significantly enhance the hospital’s capacity to provide critical care to those who need it most.

“At Egbin Power Plc, we believe that the strength of a community is reflected in the well-being of its people. As one of the largest power generation companies in Nigeria, we have always been committed to not only powering homes and industries but also to empowering lives. The impact of this donation will be far-reaching, improving emergency response, and strengthening overall healthcare delivery in the state.

“To the healthcare professionals who will be working in this ICU, we entrust this facility into your capable hands. Your dedication and expertise are the bedrock of the healthcare system. We are confident that you will provide exceptional care and restore hope to countless patients and their families.

“Our commitment to community development does not end here. At Egbin Power Plc, we will continue to seek out opportunities to contribute meaningfully to the society in which we operate. Whether through health, education, or environmental sustainability initiatives, our mission is to make a positive impact that resonates for generations to come,” Bounour said.

Ejiro Gray, director of Governance and Sustainability, Sahara Group Foundation, noted that hitherto, access to critical healthcare services was not easily accessible to patients in the community due to the distance of the available ICU, thereby causing several avoidable losses of lives.

She said:

“We don’t have a lot of this facility in Lagos State, and even in Nigeria. One can only imagine how many lives that must have been lost because we didn’t have this sort of facility for critical cases. The time and logistics it took to get critically ill patients to a healthcare facility that has an ICU was a challenge.

“We took a step further in establishing the ICU facility, equipping it with quality infrastructure and equipment to create a fully-fledged ICU in this part of the state. This has therefore brought critical care services closer to the people,” she explained.

Gray further reaffirmed the commitment of both Sahara Group Foundation and Egbin Power to fostering sustainability and building a resilient future.

Dr. Olumuyiwa Balogun-Oluwa, the acting chief medical director, General Hospital Ijede,  commended the collaboration of Sahara Group Foundation and Egbin Power Plc which gave birth to the donation of the ICU, noting the facility will serve people in Ikorodu community and Lagos State at large.

He said:

“General Hospital Ijede has moved to the next level of healthcare, a level occupied by not many general hospitals in the state, that is, a hospital with an ICU. We are grateful to Sahara Group Foundation and Egbin Power.

“The commissioning today is a further step towards fulfilling the vision statement which is to be one of the best hospitals in the environment, and I believe we are very close to achieving it. The facility will be primarily used for the benefit of the Ikorodu community and Lagos State in general. We intend to get all our staff prepared and trained for the commencement of work,” Dr. Balogun-Oluwa explained.

Dignitaries at the occasion included Commissioner II, Lagos State Health Service Commission, Dr. Mobolaji Olukoya; Director, Medical Services, Lagos State Health Service Commission, Dr. Adegbite Olawale; Director of Nursing Services, Lagos State Health Service Commission, Dr. Adebukola Cole; Medical Director, General Hospital Ikorodu, Dr. Taiwo Hassan; Medical Director, General Hospital Agbowa, Dr. Femi Aletan and immediate past Chief Medical Director, General Hospital Ijede, Dr. Abimbola Okudero.

Others were Baale of Ipakan, High Chief Mustapha Lasisi; Prince Yussuf Bello, representing Egbin Kingdom as well as the Community Liaison Officers representing Ijede.

Among the Personal Corporate Social Responsibility (PCSR) programmes carried out by Egbin Power to promote quality health for residents in the host communities include, the 3-day annual medical outreach designed to cover cardiovascular, arthritis, dental and diabetes screening.

The participants at the medical outreach are provided free quality medications after careful examinations by qualified medical practitioners.

In addition to this, Egbin supplies free uninterrupted electricity to General Hospital Ijede, delivers free hospital-grade oxygen to hospitals within Ikorodu, and quarterly donates medications that are administered free of charge to patients.

These series of interventions highlight the company’s efforts to bolster healthcare infrastructure in the communities, thereby contributing to the attainment of SDG 3.

A total of 144 employees received the Long Service Award for completing a decade with the company as of May 2024.

Additionally, numerous employees were recognized with the Employee Recognition Award for their stellar performance over the past year.

Recipients of the Long Service Award represented a wide range of departments, including Instrumentation & Control, Mechanical, Electrical, Human Resources, Finance, Subject Matter Expert (SME), Support Services, Technical Laboratory, Workshop, Quality Health Safety and Environment (QHSE), Procurement, Business Operations, Chemistry, and Operations.

While those who received the Employee Recognition Award were individuals recognized for the exceptional qualities displayed while carrying out their tasks, and therefore adjudged winners in the various awards categories.

Egbin Power emphasized that the unwavering commitment, expertise, and contributions of its employees have enabled the company to continuously provide safe and reliable power, thereby supporting the socio-economic development of the nation.

Speaking at the event, Mokhtar Bounour, the chief executive officer, noted that this milestone celebration reaffirms the company’s culture of recognition, creating a win-win situation for both employees and employers and fostering a thriving workplace.

“We are celebrating our colleagues who have dedicated a decade of their careers to this company. Their unique blend of fresh talent and seasoned experience has fostered a culture of innovation and continuous improvement, positioning Egbin Power at the forefront of the power generation industry” said Bounour.

He added,

“Your contributions extend far beyond the walls of this company. By powering homes, businesses, and vital infrastructure, you have directly impacted the lives of millions. The stability you provide allows industries to thrive, communities to flourish, and society to get better.”

Bounour further noted that the energy sector is evolving rapidly, presenting new challenges and opportunities.

“I have no doubt that with your continued support and dedication, we will navigate this changing landscape successfully and continue to lead with innovation and excellence. As we look towards the future, your expertise and unwavering spirit will continue to be instrumental in powering a brighter tomorrow for Nigeria,” he said.

Egbin Power Plc takes immense pride in its dedicated workforce. The Long Service Awards are a testament to the company’s commitment to recognizing and rewarding the exceptional contributions of its employees.

As they look towards the future, Egbin Power, fuelled by its dedicated team, remains confident in its ability to continue powering progress and shaping a brighter future for Nigeria.

The company affirmed that the Board and Management are committed to creating a positive and supportive work environment that recognizes and rewards employee contributions while constantly strategizing to drive innovation, promote human capital development, and improve operations to deliver positive results for the power sector.

This was made known during the Minister’s visit to the power Plant as part of his strategic measures to strengthen understanding among stakeholders, offer robust support to players, and address the challenges in the sector, with the overall aim of boosting power supply in Nigeria.

The federal government of Nigeria is owing the GenCo, Egbin power, about N1.4 trillion.

While affirming the commitment, the Hon. Minister said: “The Federal Government is prioritising paying down on the outstanding debt and I have assured the Board and Management of Egbin Power that, effective April we will start paying as a form of encouragement to continue to have them in operations.”

Regarding the constraints encountered by power generation companies in accessing Foreign Exchange, the Minister explained that crucial steps are being taken to prioritize allocation of Forex to the power generation companies.

“Forex sourcing has been a major constraint to effective maintenance of the facility. I have seen what we have on ground here, and the critical need for spares and tools for continuous maintenance. We will liaise with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to prioritize Foreign Exchange allocation to the power sector.

“This will ensure the companies are able to ramp up capacity in terms of output. It is not just peculiar to Egbin Power Plant, it is across all the power generating Plants. They need Forex for them to be able to maintain the turbines, replace tools and spares. This has been a major issue. I am going to takes steps to ensure I liaise with the CBN to see how they can prioritize Forex allocation to the power generating companies,” the Minister said.

While speaking on challenges of gas supply, he explained that engagements were held with the Ministry of Petroleum Resources and gas suppliers as part of measures to guarantee payment of debts and resolution of the gas constraints.

“Gas shortage has been an impediment to almost all our gas power plants. And we already had conversation with the Honourable Minister of Petroleum Resources. We are also meeting with the gas suppliers to plead with them and have an understanding that the FG is prepared to start paying down on the debt that we owe the gas supply companies.

“We need to make some cash injection in terms of payments, we want to give them some guaranteed debt instruments in terms of promissory note. And we are looking at allowing them access to Nigerian gas wells. So that this will be used to defray the outstanding debt of the gas suppliers over time,” he explained.

The Minister commended the Board and Management team of Egbin Power for its robust investment to improve, sustain and maintain the Plant’s infrastructure and facility, while contributing largely to the sector despite the challenges.

While stressing on the impact of the debt and gas constraints on the Plant, Mokhtar Bounour, the chief executive officer (CEO) Egbin Power, said:

“One of the major challenges we are facing is gas constraint, which is not allowing us to run the full capacity of the Plant. It requires a lot of investment efforts to keep the units running and safe.

“The other issue is the accumulated debt which the Minister discussed with us. On our part we are adequately ensuring the maintenance, availability of the Plant and its efficiency. We are investing a lot to get these units to run optimally. This requires millions of dollars in investment,” Bounour explained.

He commended the Minister for his commitment to address the challenges. “We highlighted the challenges we are facing, and the Federal Government, through the Minister of Power, has promised to start solving them gradually so we can start seeing improvements in the near future. We hope that the liquidity challenge will be solved soon as the Minister has promised,” Bounour added.

The Group applauded Egbin Power at the ceremony marking the 8th edition of IDF Scholarship and Awards programme held at Ijede, Ikorodu, while urging the GenCo to further deepen its collaboration with stakeholders to accelerate the socio-economic impact in the community.

The IDF yearly programme is organized to enhance the rapid transformation of the Ijede community in the areas of economic, education, and infrastructural development while driving the progress of the community people.

While commending the initiative, Head of Corporate Communications and Branding, Egbin Power Plc, Felix Ofulue emphasized its commitment to driving transformation and empowering people in its host communities through consistent collaboration.

“We strongly believe that empowering people in our host communities and collaborating with the stakeholders through purpose-driven platforms like this will further create opportunities for the people to thrive. At Egbin, driving sustainability is part of our core value,” he said.

The GenCo through its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has consistently supported the host communities – Ijede, Egbin, and Ipakan communities through healthcare interventions such as the donation of an ambulance to Ijede General Hospital, quarterly donation of medications which are administered free of charge to patients.

In addition, Egbin Power carries out periodic medical outreach programmes to offer free health screening to residents in host communities, supplies free uninterrupted electricity to General Hospital Ijede, and delivers free hospital-grade oxygen to hospitals within Ikorodu.

In boosting education development in its host communities, Egbin Power introduced a multi-million Naira scholarship programme which has been running for eight years, while it also donates thousands of quality textbooks and furniture to the public primary and secondary schools every year.

“Our commitment to sponsor impactful initiatives and give back to the society is motivated by the conviction to empower lives, promote sustainability, and build a better world in line with our Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) action plan,” Ofulue further explained.

The 8th edition of the IDF programme featured debate and quiz competitions among primary and secondary schools, the inauguration of the IDF Mini-Library/ICT Centre, and awards of scholarships to Ijede students who are excelling academically in various tertiary institutions across the country. The keynote address titled ‘The Path to Economic Empowerment for All-Inclusive and Sustainable Developmental Growth’ was delivered by Prince Jamiu Adio Saka.

IDF said its mission is “to mobilize all Ijede people at home and abroad to patriotically join hands to execute development projects for Ijede, focusing on quality education and enhancement of fast economic growth on a five (5) year programme phases.”

Regent of Ijede, High Chief Musediku Aliu; Chairman of IDF, Alhaji Fola Salu; Special Guest of Honour, Hon. Aro Moshood Abiodun, Member, Lagos State, House Assembly (Ikorodu Constituency II; Chairman of occasion Hon. Tajudeen Agoro, among other guests graced the occasion.