The Chairman of the Conseil International des Grands Reseaux Electriques (CIGRE) West Africa National Committee, Engr. Sule Ahmed Abdulaziz of Nigeria, has highlighted several significant achievements recorded by the Committee since its last General Assembly held in Lomé on 24th January 2026.
Abdulaziz who is also the Managing Director of Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) attributed the progress to the collective commitment and active contributions of members towards building a stronger, more integrated and technically advanced regional power system.
According to a statement from the Management of the TCN on Saturday, Abdulaziz spoke at the 7th Session of the General Assembly of the CIGRE West Africa National Committee in Conakry on 7th November 2026.
He identified the hosting of CIGRE Training Sessions and Study Committee meetings in Dakar in March 2026 as part of the Committee’s major accomplishments.
Another notable achievement, according to Abdulaziz was the Committee’s joint project with VRA Academy and NAPTIN, which secured a grant of €88,700 from the CIGRE Fund for Innovation and Education. The project is designed to equip young women with skills in solar energy and mini-grid technologies.
According to the Chairman, the initiative represents a strategic investment in human capital development and the future of the regional power sector.
Engr. Abdulaziz stated that these achievements were particularly significant as West Africa advances towards the second phase of the Regional Electricity Market, which seeks to establish an organised and competitive electricity market through the integration of national power systems into a unified regional grid operating at a common frequency.
He, however, observed that the regional power system remains weakly interconnected, with limited reserve capacity. He therefore emphasised that capacity building must be regarded not merely as a technical requirement but as a strategic investment in system security, improved utility performance and the overall success of the Regional Electricity Market.
On the sustainability of the Committee’s activities, the Chairman recalled the resolutions reached at the Lomé General Assembly on the establishment of a pooled funding mechanism and a minimum annual operating budget of €213,940.
He urged members to take the necessary steps to implement the resolutions to ensure sustainable financing and continuity of the Committee’s programmes and activities.
Earlier, in his welcome address, the Secretary General of the CIGRE West Africa National Committee, Mr. Abdoulaye DIA described CIGRE, established in 1921, as the world’s leading global platform for knowledge exchange and technical collaboration in power systems. He noted that the organisation has National Committees in over 90 countries and a membership of more than 15,000 professionals worldwide.
He explained that the West Africa National Committee, officially recognised by CIGRE International in August 2020, provides member utilities and industry professionals with access to CIGRE’s extensive knowledge network, technical publications and the work of its 16 Study Committees.
DIA encouraged delegates to participate actively in the General Assembly’s deliberations, stressing the importance of strengthening the Committee as a platform for professional development, technical knowledge sharing and the advancement of regional expertise, all of which are essential to the successful development of the Regional Electricity Market.
Established in 2019 by electricity companies affiliated with the West African Power Pool (WAPP), the CIGRE West Africa National Committee was officially recognised by CIGRE International in August 2020. Its mandate is to promote knowledge sharing, strengthen technical capacity and showcase West African expertise in power systems.
Its recognition as a regional National Committee also provides members with important benefits, including representation and voting rights within CIGRE, opportunities to nominate experts to technical committees, access to technical documents and publications, as well as opportunities to participate in calls for papers and access relevant funding opportunities.
The CIGRE Committee brought together power sector experts from across the region and beyond to exchange knowledge, share experiences and strengthen professional networks.
