The Akwa Ibom state government has concluded plans to partner with General Electric Global Operations for the establishment of a standard training institute to address manpower needs and boost capacity of indigenes in the power sector.
The Executive Director, Government Affairs, General Electric Global Operations - West Africa, Dr Joyce Shyngle-Wigwe, dropped the hint during an interaction with Government House Correspondents shortly after a meeting with Governor Udom Emmanuel in his office.
Dr Wigwe said that General Electric was impressed with the pace of development in the state through Governor Emmanuel’s infrastructural development programme, describing him as a seasoned entrepreneur.
The company, she said, has decided to partner with the state in the provision of electricity, health care services and other development programmes of the administration.
She explained that the company had been involve in the installation of turbines at Ibom Power Plant and has undertaken the rehabilitation of power infrastructure to facilitate speedy transmission and distribution of electricity in the state.
The Chairman Ibom Power Company Engr. Etido Inyang, who facilitated the meeting described the interaction as fruitful and explained that the Governor has given approval for the state government to collaborate with the firm to boost power generation at Ibom Power Company.
He maintained that the collaboration would make the state a Power hub and that the first phase of electricity generation would be at two hundred and forty Mega Watt while the second two hundred and forty would provide a total output of four hundred and eighty Mega Watt for sufficient power generation .
Engr. Inyang indicated that the Governor has directed the company to work out a functional modality to actualise the vision and expressed delight at the company's decision to establish a training centre in the state.
The Commissioner for Works Mr Ephraim Inyang who also spoke said the company would help fast track the development matrix of the state administration.
The Chief Operating Officer of the company Mr Ahmed Zakari who commended Governor Emmanuel on the development strides witnessed in the state, hinted that the state vision on infrastructure and industrialisation informed their decision to partner in the development agenda of the state administration.
He stated that the partnership would boost the power sector to enable mall and medium scale business operators carry out their businesses and provide employment to the youths of the state.
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