As the two days Power-to-Power Summit put together by Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (PHCCIMA) ends in Port Harcourt, stakeholders have tasked government at all levels on a legislative frame work to boost the power supply in the country.
In his opening remark, the President Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (PHCCIMA) Eze, Sir Mike Elechi, JP explained thus “the event is timely and its content was deliberately planned, as its need and relevance, has become very important in the life of our city, state, region and indeed, country, We have carefully identified the need to examine the power situation in Nigeria and come to the conclusion not to sit, dwell and complain about the well known problems but to identify the solutions and at the same time, turn these solutions into business opportunities”.
The PHCCIMA President identified Solutions and Resultant Opportunities as an underlying focus in many sessions, workshops and exhibitions, adding that the administration of the Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (PHCCIMA), under his watch tends to look at practical and relevant business trends as it affects SMEs in state and the region. Needless to say that power has been a fundamental challenge in productivity and services for the same SMEs in question”. We expect that this gathering will be able to look into the following areas:
- 1. Existing energy technologies that can be modified and made more user friendly, for local application and maintenance.
- Local manufacture or assembly of relevant energy appliances and tools as a business.
- Exploration of alternative sources of power that are environmentally friendly and have a significantly reduced carbon footprint.
- Possible small and medium scale energy solutions that can be embedded to provide uninterrupted power, to a circumscribed community; this also being done as a business venture.
- Develop regulatory guidelines for government to consider, allowing room for more private investment in the power and overall consumer energy sector.
Consequently, I hereby call upon government at the state and federal levels to consider legislation and guidelines which allow for more entry in to the energy supply sector. Also to improve the enabling operational environment that will encourage aggregation of existing players, to provide power to businesses and communities” .
He finally expressed the hope that the economy will benefit tremendously from power improvement and growth and this will positively affect economic growth, GDP, productivity, employment and will have a dramatic effect on the current security situation in the country as people are gainfully engaged.
Declaring the event open, the Rivers State Deputy Governor, Dr. Mrs Ipalibo Harry Banigo represented by the permanent secretary Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Lawson Ikwuru who described the summit as timely, adding that it will help to restore sanity in the power sector.
The State Deputy Governor also commended the organizers of the event for the ideas and called on relevant stakeholders to key into the ideas for the overall interest of the country.
In his speech, the President, Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCMA) Ide Udeagbala regretted that sufficient and sustainable power were yet to be achieved in Nigeria and blamed both the government and private sector for not working closely to find a lasting solution.
He expressed the hope that the outcome of the summit will help to address some of the challenges facing power sector in Nigeria.
The two days power-to-power summit which was held at the banquet hall of Hotel Presidential in Port Harcourt between the 11-12 August 2022 had in attendance among other stakeholders, the Rwandan High Commissioner to Nigeria, His Excellency, Amb. Stanislas Kamanzi, Minister of State for Power, Goddy Jedy Agba, Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Power, the MD GGI Group, Sir Dr. Innocent Akuvue Chairman of the Summit, representative of MD TCN, principal partners Engr. Sylvanus Kingston, MD of Dorisdesmon Ltd and representative of the GCEO Oilserv Group and Keynote Speaker, Engr Chuka Eze, the Chairman of Power and Energy Trade Group, Engr. Tony Nwogbo, the President of Ogoni Chamber of Commerce, Chief T. Adoage Norteh, PHCCIMA 2nd Deputy President, Hon. Prince Charles OsiminiBeke, Treasurer Surveyor Emmanuel Ogbonda, Publicity Secretary, Pastor Uche Onochie, Past Presidents, Chief Nabil Saleh, Elder Dr. Hyke Ochia, Prince Dr. Billy Sotubo Gillis-Harry, Council members, Chief Emeka Ezekwe, Mrs. Florence Nwosibe, Mr. Emmanuel Nwankwo, Chief Ernest Elochukwu, Chief O. I. Ezenekwe, Hon. Dr. Silva Opuala-Charles, Dr. Mrs. Mercy Abu, Dr. Maraizu Uche, Mr. Clement Akanibo, other Chamber members and Mr. Erasmus Chukunda, DG.
South 4 District of the Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship International, Dr. Festus Nwokafor in his welcome address expressed his gladness to the Chamber President and Exco members for honouring their invitation to attend the event and applauded the Chamber’s role in developing businesses in the State. Other Chamber Exco members present at the Business Breakfast meeting are the 2nd Deputy President Hon. Prince Charles Beke, Treasurer Surveyor Emmanuel Ogbonda, Elected Council member and Chairman Trade Missions Desk, Mrs. Florence Nwosibe, other Chamber members and staff present include the Chamber Auditor and Vice Chairman of Professional and General Consultancy Trade Group, Mr. Silas O. Igwe, the Chairman of Export, Import and General Merchandise Trade Group, Dr. Charles Amanze, the Chairman of Golden Tulip Hotels, Chief Emmanuel Ugoakaeze, the Director General, Mr. Erasmus Chukunda, the membership Officer Ms. Chioma Anyanwu and Corper Richgift Nneoma. The event also featured display of activities of the various partners/agencies and taking of the event photographs.
