Wetin Mustapha Don Do Sef?

 

Position of authority no doubt comes with its cacophony of noise from cynics and naysayers, aspersions from never-do-well and no less, cynicism from misanthropes. Regardless of who the occupier is, they are bound to face criticisms – whether rightly or wrongly. As a leader, you are the cynosure of many eyes. There are those who think ill, talk ill and even act ill towards you. It does not necessarily mean you probably have erred before them or wronged their persons. It is a natural phenomenon. To some of these folks, you do not need to have crossed their paths. Sometimes they do not even need to know or have come across you in person.

 

This group of persons are naturally faultfinders, while some are just obstructionists, analogous to what Yorùbás would call, ‘abanije’ or ‘abanilayoje’ which literally translates to killjoys. This set of individuals abound everywhere – in the ordinary business of life, among social clubs and/or associations, in religious settings, in community development associations, but they are more pronounced within the political circle because that (politics) has to do more with the general public. It is therefore not discombobulating when some persons would attempt to deride or play down the milestones of the Director-General/Chief Executive Officer, Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN), Dr. Mustapha Abdullahi, (CEng, MIMechE, MNSE) since his assumption of office.

 

Perhaps, it could pass for a case of a Yorùbá cliché that says, ‘Òtá eni kìí pa òdù òyà’ – a cynic remains one regardless of the fête or achievement of their adversary. The case with the Energy Commission honcho, Dr. Abdullahi is that of a man with ethereal benison whose celestial kismet cannot be pooh-poohed by any homo sapien – humanlike or poikilothermic. It is never in doubt the footprints of the Energy Commission boss in so short a period of coming into office. His commitment and unwavering dedication have been sterling and ubiquitous. Any attempt whatsoever and from whatever quarters to bemock or tantalise his successes in just 9 months shows the lowliness of the human nature, and no less what we call, in colloquial or street parlance ‘winchi-winchi’. Dr. Abdullahi is no AI or a golem.

 

Now, let us speak to verifiable facts. Let us have a run down of some of his (Dr. Abdullahi) milestones in the last nine months of his stewardship as the man at helm of affairs at the country’s lead energy agency. I enjoin all and sundry that we all disabuse our minds, if not for the sake of the country which has since witnessed possible turnaround in her energy wherewithal since the appointment of this young and industrious Nigerian, but for the sake of our conscience. Let us embrace broad-mindedness in assessing his stewardship in the last nine (9) months. As we present these milestones, individuals can go on fact-finding mission to confirm the veracity or mendacity of these claims. Facts are sacred and can be controverted with superior evidence. Below is the 9-month scorecard Renewed Hope milestones in the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN) under the leadership of Dr. Mustapha Abdullahi;

1. Partnering With The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) on MEPS

Since assuming office, the Commission’s partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has held 3 workshops on the Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) in the area conditioners that aims to reduce carbon emissions, thereby leading to safe environment.

2. Represented Nigeria alongside Mr. President in the #CUP28UAE

The Director-General/Chief Executive Officer of the ECN did represent Nigeria in the 2023 world’s largest gathering tagged, #CUP28UAE where he presented a paper to over 70,000 participants including world leaders on #GlobalCleanCooling pledge.

3. Signing Energy Pact with GWEC and Niger State

At the #CUP28UAE held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, he signed a tripartite ‘wind energy’ agreement with the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) and the Niger State Government.

4. G20 Summit in Brazil

The Energy Commission boss attended G20’s Energy Summit in Brasilia where he spoke on behalf of Africa emphasising energy transitions and net-zero emissions.

5. Africa Energy Indaba, Cape Town, South Africa

Dr. Abdullahi presented a paper alongside global energy experts during a 4-day energy summit in South Africa tagged, #AfricaEnergyIndaba which held in Cape Town, South Africa.

6. Unveiling Gazetted National Energy Policy (NEP) and National Energy Master Plan (NEMP) Documents

For the first in the history of the Commission since its creation over 40 years ago, the Commission under his leadership recently unveiled twin-documents on National Energy Policy (NEP) and National Energy Master Plan (NEMP). Both documents form the energy blueprints for the country.

7. Presentation of Wood Stoves on Renewable Energy Campaign

In further commitment to its exploit in ensuring a safer environment, the Commission under Dr. Abdullahi pioneered the Commission’s Clean Cooking advocacy with presentation of clean cooking wood stoves with a pilot scheme held at Kurudu, Mararaba, Nasarawa State where wood stoves with low emissions were distributed.

Other footprints of the Chief Executive Officer of the Commission, Dr. Abdullahi include but not limited to the below;

i. Teaming up with the United Kingdom’s Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) for energy planning workshop

ii. Collaboration with DEWA and the European Union (EU) delegation

iii. Held energy audit discussion with the Council for the Registration of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN)

iv. Capacity building of the Commission’s staff with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)

v. Entered into partnership agreement with the National Biomass Ethanol Programme (NBEP), amongst others.

The public can, therefore, go on investigation to fact-check all of these stated milestones under the leadership of Dr. Abdullahi in a space of 9 months. If for nothing, one can conveniently conclude that the Director-General/Chief Executive Officer, Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN), Dr. Mustapha Abdullahi deserves his flowers.

 

 

 

 

OMOGBOLAHAN BABAWALE
SA, Communications & Strategy
Office of the Director-General/Chief Executive Officer
Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN)