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Siemens at Maiden Customer Forum Hints on Energy Long Term Plan
Siemens, one of the world’s largest producers of energy-efficient, resource-saving technologies, today hosted its inaugural Forum for Power and Gas Customers in Nigeria.
The objectives of the forum were to emphasize Siemens’ long term focus on Public-Private Partnerships for the development of Independent Power Plants (IPPs) and provision of its associated services for such development to Siemens customers; promote Siemens’ in-country service capabilities in the Oil and Gas, Utilities and Manufacturing Sectors and explore sector growth through delivery of turnkey captive/Embedded Distributed Generation and LGT Power Plant solutions.
Speakers at the Forum were Mrs. Onyeche Tifase, managing director /chief executive officer, Siemens Nigeria; Mr. Andreas Pistauer, Senior Vice President Sales (Africa), Siemens AG; Dr. David Ladipo, Chief Executive Officer, Azura Power; Mr. Nasir Giwa, General Manager – Power and Gas, Siemens Nigeria; Mr. Tobias Behringer, Head of Department – Financing, Advising and Structuring, Siemens AG and Mr. Daniel Taylor, Head of Service, Siemens Nigeria.
In her welcome address, Mrs. Tifase stated “Siemens has successfully delivered solutions for power generation, transmission and distribution for over 160 years across more than 190 countries. Our main objective here today is to determine how these solutions can be adapted to our peculiar situation here in Nigeria. Given our 45 year history in Nigeria, most of you here know us well already. We will however use this opportunity to reintroduce and highlight core aspects of our portfolio that distinguish Siemens with regards to our capability to provide efficient and competitive solutions through leading edge electrification, project financing and service capabilities and technology.”
Siemens strongly supports local content with a focus on closer customer repositioning, first response, after sales support, project financing and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
Speaking on this, Mr. Andreas Pistauer, senior vice president, Sales (Africa), Siemens AG stated “We want to extend, build and have partnerships with Nigeria and are here to promote innovation through our local footprint. Our Port Harcourt One-Service Centre is a key example of how we are investing in delivering high-end after-sales services to clients using local staff, modern facilities and advanced equipment.”
Dr David Ladipo, CEO Azura Power West Africa Ltd, gave an overview on the ground-breaking Azura-Edo Independent Power Project (IPP) and Siemens’ roles as both a long-term Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPC) partner and financial contributor through the Siemens Financial Solutions (SFS) division.
The Azura project is a 459MW open cycle gas turbine power station being developed near Benin City in Edo State and represents the first phase of a 1,500MW power plant facility targeted to come on stream in 2018.
Dr. Ladipo, spoke on the journey so far; commending Siemens’ patience, innovation, appetite for risk and long-term focus.
There was also additional commentary from Standard Chartered Bank – the project’s Global Mandated Lead Arranger – on the uniqueness of the financial transaction.
During his presentation titled Mr. Tobias Behringer, ‘Siemens Financial Solution for Power and Gas’, stated that “Building on the strength of our balance sheet, we provide financial solutions for Siemens’ projects and products, open the way for new business ideas and signal confidence to the markets through long-term risk participation”.
The solutions cover an analysis of all aspects and risks related to project finance, review of the financial viability of projects, coordination and negotiations with all project participants and design of financing-relevant components in the supplier agreement.
The event – which will hold annually – was well attended by a cross-section of key stakeholders, decision makers and partners to Siemens in the Power and Gas sector.
Siemens AG (Berlin and Munich) is a global technology powerhouse that has stood for engineering excellence, innovation, quality, reliability and internationality for more than 165 years.
The company is active in more than 200 countries, focusing on the areas of electrification, automation and digitalization.
One of the world’s largest producers of energy-efficient, resource-saving technologies, Siemens is No. 1 in offshore wind turbine construction, a leading supplier of gas and steam turbines for power generation, a major provider of power transmission solutions and a pioneer in infrastructure solutions as well as automation, drive and software solutions for industry.
The company is also a leading provider of medical imaging equipment – such as computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging systems – and a leader in laboratory diagnostics as well as clinical IT.
In fiscal 2015, which ended on September 30, 2015, Siemens generated revenue of €75.6 billion and net income of €7.4 billion. At the end of September 2015, the company had around 348,000 employees worldwide.
Atte Ayodeji, a Nigerian computer scientist,has developed an artificial intelligence algorithm capable of detecting, counting, grouping and generating healthy hair follicles during hair transplant procedures, an innovation that earned him the Best Innovative Technology award.
Atte Ayodeji
Ayodeji also graduated with a Distinction in his Master of Science (MSc) in Computer Science from Birmingham City University on Friday, adding another milestone to an impressive academic year.
Beyond his award-winning hair transplant innovation, the Nigerian researcher developed a system and framework on Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI) as a professional responsibility in the diagnosis of lung cancer.
His dissertation received a silver award at the PGXPO2026 Winter, further highlighting the impact of his research in applying artificial intelligence to healthcare.
Sunday Dare, special adviser on Media and Public Communication to President Tinubu, celebrated Ayodeji’s achievements in a post on X, recalling how he first met him in 2019 during his National Youth Service.
“In 2019 when I became a Minister of the Republic, I met a young man of medium height, genteel with penetrating eyes: Atte Ayodeji. His words rarely come out and he could easily be passed by unnoticed. But I noticed him especially when my SA Kemi Areola brought him to me asking my approval for him to do his Youth Service in my office. I approved. From then on he was unstoppable. His brilliance shown and he developed skills beyond his frame.”
Highlighting Ayodeji’s recent accomplishments, Dare congratulated him saying, “Congratulations Atte. I am proud of you!”
Mr. Joseph Tegbe, minister of Power, has said that the federal government plans to end power sector subsidies from 2027 and that there are no immediate plans for tariff increases.
Mr. Joseph Tegbe, minister of Power
The minister told journalists during the media interactive session at the weekend that the government has announced plans to phase out electricity subsidy payments from 2027 as part of efforts to address mounting liabilities in the power sector.
He explained that the planned removal forms part of the broader reforms aimed at ensuring the long-term sustainability of the electricity sector, while tackling the financial challenges confronting the industry.
According to the minister, despite the planned subsidy withdrawal, there are no immediate plans to increase electricity tariffs, reassuring consumers that the government is not considering a tariff hike in the short term.
Patience Okala, the National Coordinator and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria AfCFTA Coordination Office has urged African countries to stop exporting raw materials and instead focus on adding value to its natural resources if it is to fully harness the opportunities offered by the African Continental Free Trade Area.
She stated this on Thursday at the Streamsowers & Köhn 20th Anniversary Business Forum, where she stressed that value addition and beneficiation are essential to Africa’s industrialisation and long-term economic growth.
According to a statement issued on Friday by the Nigeria AfCFTA Coordination Office, she said the AfCFTA goes beyond the elimination of tariffs, serving as a framework for industrialisation, value addition, and job creation across the continent.
“AfCFTA is not only about tariffs; it is also about value addition. Africa has to stop exporting raw materials. We need to add value and ensure that beneficiation is done on the continent,” she said.
Okala also said Africa’s economic transformation would depend on the effective implementation of the AfCFTA rather than on the signing of trade agreements alone.
“We have moved beyond negotiations. The success of AfCFTA will be measured by the extent to which businesses can access new markets, trade seamlessly across borders, and benefit from the opportunities created by the agreement,” she said.
She noted that Nigeria had intensified efforts to implement the agreement under the leadership of the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, including the development of simplified AfCFTA guides in six languages to help businesses understand and take advantage of opportunities under the trade pact.
Okala called for stronger collaboration among governments, regulators, and the private sector to eliminate barriers to trade and investment and build a truly integrated African market.
“As we move from policy to implementation, our collective responsibility is to ensure that the opportunities created by AfCFTA become practical realities for businesses, particularly MSMEs, women-owned enterprises, and young entrepreneurs across the continent,” she said.
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