Utility companies in the Nigerian electricity sector have over time gotten it wrong in providing adequate services to their customers in powering their homes and businesses.
While most of the customers do not know what constitutes their rights to hold the companies accountable, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has promulgated various regulations and orders to guide the sector.
So, to enable more robust engagement and enlightenment on what can be done better, NERC introduced an annual essay competition for students to innovate corrective measures so that electricity customers can be better served.
NERC said that this year’s edition saw submission from 500 pupils, with Faith Ayomide Ogundola of the Ekiti State University International College, Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State, coming first in the competition and earning N500,000, a certificate and a plaque.
Sumaiya Abubakar of NAK Academy, Funtua, Katsina State, came second, got a certificate, a plaque and N300,000; while the third position went to Vanju Rejoice John of Government Day Senior Secondary School (GDSSS), Bekaji, Jimeta, Adamawa State, who got a certificate, a plaque and a cheque of N200,000.
Speaking during the award ceremony held at the NERC headquarters in Abuja, NERC’s Chairman, Sanusi Garba, congratulated the winners, noting that the annual event sought to encourage children and youths to develop interest in the Nigerian power sector, electricity and energy conservation.
Mr Garba said, “We pick public interest topics and invite students to write essays on these. This year, the topic is about ‘Consumer Protection’. We are encouraged to know that students have taken an interest in understanding what we do as a regulator and the regulations we have made to protect consumers.”
NERC’s Commissioner, Consumer Affairs, Aisha Mahmud, said it was the fourth time the annual essay competition had been held.
The three top winners presented highlights of their essays on the NERC Customer Protection Regulations. For her eloquence, Rejoice John got a cash award of N100,000 from NERC’s Vice Chairman, Dr Musiliu Oseni.
Dr Oseni, in his closing remarks, said over 500 pupils applied for the contest and wrote the essay which was marked by the West African Examination Council (WAEC).
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