Join our Telegram group and receive breaking and trending news updates directly on your phone.
Join for News Updates ✕
Dada Ahmed, Editor,The Reporters.
(C) Google.
Nigeria’s quest for sustainable economic growth and digital transformation may remain a distant dream unless the persistent electricity crisis is decisively addressed, the Vice-Chancellor of Bells University of Technology, Ota, Prof. Jeremiah Ojediran, has warned.
Speaking through the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ngozi Arisa, at the inauguration of LearnSmart in Sango-Ota, Ogun State, Ojediran urged the Federal Government to prioritise stable electricity supply as a cornerstone for national development.
He painted a stark picture of a struggling business environment where unreliable power continues to cripple productivity, inflate operational costs, and force companies to rely heavily on self-generated electricity.
According to him, the burden of generating power independently is steadily suffocating businesses, discouraging investments, and pushing many promising enterprises to the brink of collapse.
“This idea of establishing a company and generating your own electricity is killing businesses across the country,” he said, noting that the situation is worsening unemployment and contributing to the growing wave of youth migration.
Ojediran stressed that no meaningful industrial growth or innovation-driven economy can thrive under such conditions, adding that improved electricity supply would not only sustain existing businesses but also stimulate job creation and enhance national productivity.
Our correspondent reports that the event also spotlighted the growing intersection between energy and digital development, as stakeholders emphasised that reliable power is critical to unlocking Nigeria’s digital economy potential.
The Founder and Chief Executive Officer of LearnSmart, Mr. Sanni Adedokun, said the organisation was established in 2024 to drive human capital development and digital empowerment across Nigeria and Africa.
He explained that LearnSmart operates through three integrated pillars,LearnSmart Tech Hive, SmartViews, and Smart’A’TETE,focused on equipping Nigerians with practical digital skills and innovation capacity.
Adedokun revealed that the organisation is partnering with government initiatives to advance digital literacy and computer-based testing, particularly in public schools, while targeting the training of over 10,000 youths in areas such as cybersecurity in 2026.
While commending the Federal Government’s plan to develop three million technical talents, he warned that such ambition could be undermined without adequate infrastructure.
He identified poor electricity supply, unstable internet connectivity, and resistance to innovation as key barriers to progress, urging authorities to address these challenges holistically.
Industry observers say the concerns raised at the event underscore a broader national dilemma which means that without stable power, Nigeria risks stalling its industrialisation drive and missing out on the opportunities of the global digital economy.
As calls for reform grow louder, stakeholders agree that fixing the electricity sector is no longer optional but essential for Nigeria’s economic survival and long-term development.
Report from correspondent in Ota.
