From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
A career Diplomat, Amb. Godknows Igali, has extoled Late Engr Joseph Makoju’s efforts to Fix Nigeria’s Power Sector during his lifetime with an advise to the incoming administration of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu to sustain the feat.
Amb. Igali noted that the call has become imperative inorder to pave way for the emergence of a robust power sector that would boost the nation’s economy.
Amb. Igali made the call when he delivered a Memorial Lecture in honour of late Engr.Joseph Makoju at the Federal University Lokoja.
The quest lecturer spoke on “The Apogee of National Service and Vision for the Nigerian Power Sector: Reflection on the Life and times of Engr (Dr) Joseph Oyeyani Makoju”.
Igali, who paid great tribute to the late Engr Makoju for the tremendous role he played in the reformation and development of the power sector in Nigeria, leveraging on his robust background as an engineer, described power as crucial to the development of any nation.
He, however, expressed worry that despite all the changes and reforms made in the energy sector over the years,Nigeria electricity supply industry remained “lethargic, wasteful,and unable to play its critical role in the national economy.
“For a country that is greatly endowed with multiple sources, it is a sad reality that these changes have not been fully tapped. We also need to build more dams around the Benue River system,” he said.
Amb.Igali noted that though the reforms of the power sector were well intended at ensuring a well-developed Natíonal Power Sector Industry, the improvements in service delivery had been lacklustre and unable to meet the expected targets.
He identified factors responsible for the lack of improvement in the sector to include, serious payment issues, unimpressive regulator of the sector,low level of capital infusion and limited energy mix.
While commending the present administration in the country for its efforts in reforming the power sector, the quest lecturer, however, stressed the need for the incoming governnent to work seriously towards ensuring a robust sector.
“Most foundamental is the overall supervisory and regulatory environment.In the new privatised environment, as in the rest of the world, Federal Ministry of Power is expected, under the regulation of Heads of State, to provide robust policy guidance and supervision in the sector,” he suggested.
Amb.Igali also called for the revival of the problem solving and decision-making platform as well as the Presidential Task Force on Power (PTFP) for the nation to have the desired power sector.
According to him, PTFP was established as a full time adhoc agency aimed at bringing together, young talented Nigerians from within and in diaspora to daily brainstorm on performance strategies and targets in the sector.
Amb.Igali,who is the Pro- Chancellor/Chairman, Federal University of Technology, Akure added that PTFP, considered as an Ombudsman with the hope that it would help the sector to experience the growth that occurred in the reformations was later disbanded.
Other areas, the guest lecturer wants the incoming administration to turn its search light on, to ensure the realisation of the desired power sector, are;the transmission backbone, distribution of power, funding and financial liquidity.
In his address of welcome, the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Olayemi Akinwumi, who described the lecture as a celebration of life and times of the late Engr. Makoju, commended his passion for power reforms in Nigeria.
” There is no doubt that the power sector has contributed immensely to the growth and development of Nigeria.
“Engr.Joseph Makoju’s passion for power in Nigeria was second to none. No wonder,he dedicated his entire life to power generation and reformation in Nigeria,” he said.
The vice chancellor promised that the lecture, a project reflecting the partnership between the university and Joseph Oyeyani Makoju Foundation for Development, Leadership and Technology, would be an annual event henceforth.
Responding,the matriach of the Makoju family,Dr. Gladys Adesuwa Makoju, who attended the occasion with some of her children,thanked the university management and array of personalities that turned up to honour her husband.
Dr. Gladys Makoju,who announced a donation of the house of her late husband in Lokoja to serve as Centre for the foundation, promised to keep the flag of the legacy of her late husband flying, especially in the area of scholarship programme and humanitarian services among others.
One of the children of the deceased, Dr.Ovayoza Adeleye,a U S-based medical practitioner, described her father as a strict disciplinarian, highly unassuming, loved and cared for his family and trained them to attain greater heights in education and sound moral upbringing to become responsible leaders in their various positions today.
Represented at the occasion by the Secretary to the State Governnent,Dr. Folashade Ayo Arike, Governor Yahaya Bello also commended the deceased for his enormous contributions to the power sector and the wellbeing of many people.
Engr. Makoju a product of Nottingham University,UK where he graduated with first class degree in mechanical engineering, Engr.
Engr. Makoju(74) was an indigene of Egbira land in Kogi State and died in 2022.