Stakeholders in Nigeria’s electricity sector have renewed calls for coordinated reforms, stronger accountability and a structured transition to cleaner energy, as the Nigeria Electricity Supply Industry Week 2026 was officially unveiled in Abuja.
The initiative, according to its organisers, is aimed at addressing longstanding challenges in the sector by fostering sustained collaboration among regulators, operators, policymakers and investors.
The Chief Executive Officer of NESI Platform Limited and Chairman of the NESI Week Steering Committee, Obiorah Anthony, said the launch marked a defining moment for Nigeria’s energy and sustainability ecosystem.
Recall that the National Sports Commission last week pledged full government backing for the maiden Nigeria Electricity Supply Industry Games, describing the initiative as a strategic platform to deepen cohesion within the power sector and stimulate the sports economy.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Anthony said the country stood at a critical point that required deliberate institutional collaboration, innovation and a clear pathway from policy to implementation.
“Today marks a defining milestone in Nigeria’s energy and sustainability ecosystem. It is my great honour to officially announce the launch of NESI Week 2026, scheduled to be held from November 15 to 22 in Abuja, Nigeria,” he said.
He stressed that the sector’s pressing needs, including stronger institutional collaboration, structured innovation pipelines, youth engagement, enterprise visibility and national cohesion, could no longer be addressed through isolated engagements.
“These needs cannot be addressed through isolated conversations. They require integration. They require structure. They require a national platform. NESI Week was designed to serve that purpose,” Anthony stated.
Nigeria privatised its power sector in 2013 following reforms under the administration of Goodluck Jonathan, unbundling the former state monopoly into generation and distribution companies, while transmission remained under government control through the Transmission Company of Nigeria.
More than a decade later, however, the sector remains fragile. Average generation continues to hover far below installed capacity, while debts across the value chain have risen into trillions of naira. Distribution companies also face persistent revenue shortfalls and liquidity challenges.
The metering gap remains wide, with millions of electricity consumers still unmetered, fuelling disputes and estimated billing complaints. Repeated national grid collapses have further undermined public confidence, disrupted businesses and households and exposed weaknesses in transmission infrastructure.
Against this backdrop, Anthony said the organisation created a platform that would consistently hold the sector accountable and stimulate solution-driven dialogue.
He added that the energy ecosystem must evolve in line with global sustainability goals.
“We want to move the industry beyond talk shops to measurable commitments and implementation. We are making deliberate efforts to encourage a transition towards renewable energy, because that is the global direction. Reducing carbon emissions and promoting alternative sources of energy is no longer optional. It is necessary,” the statement read.
According to him, NESI Week would integrate five pillars, NESI Games, Innovation Challenge, CEO and Policy Forum, Expo and Awards, into a unified national platform.
“It is not five separate events. It is one coordinated ecosystem. The CEO and Policy Forum will provide a space for frank engagement, and commitments made will be tracked and reviewed yearly,” Anthony explained.
He noted that the event would bring together regulators such as the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, generation and distribution companies, investors, policymakers and legislators for outcome-driven discussions.
Anthony also announced that the NESI Games 2026 would be Nigeria’s first fully carbon-measured corporate multi-sport event, aligned with global sustainability standards.
He stated, “This is not a symbolic declaration. This is a measurable commitment. Aligned with global best practices and the principles of the United Nations Sports for Climate Action initiative, NESI Games will establish a transparent carbon accounting framework.”
He said the framework would track direct and indirect emissions across Scope 1, 2 and 3, covering fuel and energy use, electricity consumption, participant travel, accommodation, catering, logistics, waste and merchandise.
“At the conclusion of NESI Week 2026, a carbon summary report will be published. Let me be clear: we will measure, we will reduce, and we will report transparently,” he said.
According to him, the initiative reflects the belief that if the energy industry can decarbonise its own event, it can decarbonise its operations.
“This commitment reflects a deeper truth. If the energy industry can decarbonise its own sporting event, it can decarbonise its operations. NESI Games will not only promote unity and wellness; it will set a sustainability benchmark for corporate Nigeria,” Anthony added.
He outlined timelines for the programme, stating that registration for the NESI Games would run from April 1 to May 31, with regional qualifiers between June and August, national quarter-finals in October and finals from November 15 to 20.
He said the Innovation Challenge would run from July to November, culminating in a live hackathon and pitch sessions, while the Awards would follow a rigorous and transparent evaluation process.
Anthony urged institutions, innovators and industry leaders to participate.
“To institutions across Nigeria: register and compete. To innovators: build and submit. To industry leaders: engage and collaborate. To partners and sponsors: align strategically, including in sustainability and carbon measurement partnerships,” he said.
He also called on the media to amplify credible national initiatives aimed at strengthening the sector.
With growing pressure to stabilise electricity supply and improve energy access, stakeholders say sustained collaboration, transparency and measurable outcomes will be key to restoring confidence and unlocking investments in the power industry.
The statement concluded, “With clarity of purpose, structured planning, national ambition and measurable environmental responsibility, we hereby formally declare the official launch of NESI Week 2026. Let us collaborate, innovate, compete responsibly and build together.
