Business
Huawei Trains Nigerian Civil Servants, Harp On Renewable Energy
In a move to support Nigeria’s transition to renewable energy, global technology giant Huawei has collaborated with the Office of the Head of the Civil Service and the Ministry of Power to equip Nigerian civil servants with essential skills in the green energy sector.
The two-day training programme theme “Green Energy and Solar Power Training” held in Abuja, targeted Directors of Engineering Departments across various ministries and agencies, aiming to enhance their knowledge of solar energy technologies and further champion its adoption in Nigeria. Participants were trained in making informed decisions on solar product selection, system maintenance, and ensuring energy efficiency in government operations.
Speaking at the opening of the training, Minister of Power Chief Adebayo Adelabu, represented by Permanent Secretary Alhaji Mahumuda Mamman, highlighted Huawei’s critical role in advancing renewable energy solutions.
“Huawei, as a global leader in technology and innovation, has been instrumental in making solar energy more efficient, scalable, and accessible,” Adelabu stated.
“Their involvement in this programme reflects their commitment not only to technological advancement but also to the education and empowerment of Nigeria’s energy leaders.”
Adelabu expressed confidence that the training would equip participants with valuable skills that would benefit their careers and contribute to Nigeria’s goal of energy independence and sustainability.
“The success of our energy transition depends on collaboration—between government, industry, and the technology sector,” he added.
“By working together, we can develop the infrastructure, policies, and human capital needed to accelerate Nigeria’s shift to a green energy economy.”
In his welcome remarks,Huawei Board Director Jim Zhang underscored the company’s longstanding presence in Nigeria, emphasising its contributions to the country’s digital and energy sectors.
“A lot of people know Huawei for our equipment, headsets, and laptops. However, we also provide digital power solutions, smart photovoltaic (PV) systems, and energy storage solutions (ESS) in Nigeria,” Zhang said.
He noted that Huawei has been in Nigeria for 26 years, operating two headquarters in Lagos and Abuja, alongside a training centre, an operations centre, and an innovation hub.
“We have already supplied nearly 100 megawatts of power through our smart PV and ESS systems in Nigeria,” Zhang revealed.
“We also collaborate with several universities, offering training programmes for students and professionals.”
Zhang reaffirmed Huawei’s commitment to working closely with the Nigerian government and businesses to address electricity challenges and enhance energy efficiency.
Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Didi Esther Walson-Jack, represented by Permanent Secretary Dr Danjuma Usman Kalba, commended Huawei’s efforts in training civil servants. She stressed the importance of institutionalising such initiatives to ensure continuous capacity building in the public sector.
“We cannot thank Huawei enough for making itself available and organising this training,” Walson-Jack said.
“We hope this will become a continuous initiative within the civil service.”
She further emphasised the economic and environmental benefits of renewable energy, urging ministries and agencies to align their strategies with global sustainability policies.
“The world is increasingly focusing on climate change and its impact. It is essential that Nigeria aligns with global renewable energy policies,” she said.
“I encourage participants to seize this opportunity to understand solar energy systems, particularly their maintenance and practical applications.”
The 2-day training program features technical sessions tailored to enhance participants knowledge and capabilities in solar power, as well as site visits to Huawei-implemented project sites as part of the effort to equip participants with practical knowledge and drive the nation towards a sustainable and energy-efficient future.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has announced a significant review of the documentation requirements for transactions conducted through the Pan-African Payment & Settlement System (PAPSS) in Nigeria.
This initiative is part of CBN’s ongoing commitment to foster seamless intra-African trade, financial inclusion, and operational efficiency for Nigerians engaging in cross-border payments within Africa.
In a circular dated April 28, 2025, CBN introduced simplified documentation for low-value PAPSS transactions — allowing individuals and corporates to use basic KYC and AML documents for transactions up to USD 2,000 and USD 5,000 respectively. Higher-value transactions will still require full documentation as outlined in the CBN Foreign Exchange Manual.
The CBN also stated that Authorized Dealer Banks (ADBs) can now source foreign exchange for PAPSS settlements directly from the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market, without relying on the CBN. Additionally, export proceeds repatriated via PAPSS must be certified by the processing banks.
The apex bank urged all banks, exporters, importers, and individuals to familiarize themselves with the new guidelines and leverage PAPSS for seamless cross-border transactions across Africa.
Launched by Afreximbank in partnership with the African Union and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat in January 2022, PAPSS serves as a centralized payment and settlement platform that enables instant, secure, and efficient cross-border transactions throughout Africa.
By facilitating payments in local currencies, PAPSS minimizes reliance on third-party currencies, reduces transaction costs, and supports the rapid expansion of trade under the AfCFTA.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has cautioned Nigerians against the excessive desire for money.
The agency issued the advice in a terse post on its X handle on Sunday.
“Love money too much, and Ponzi schemes will love you …..as their next target….be guided, the Eagle loves you all,” the post read.
This is coming amid ongoing investigation into the alleged fraud perpetrated by a digital investment platform, CryptoBank Exchange (CBEX).
CBEX had reportedly crashed on April 14, leading to the loss of billions of naira belonging to Nigerian investors.
Several videos online had shown some Nigerians raising the alarm over the loss of their funds to the scheme.
The EFCC had on Friday declared eight persons wanted over their alleged involvement in a fraudulent scheme linked to the online trading platform.
The move came on the heels of the Federal High Court in Abuja granting the EFCC’s request to arrest and detain persons found promoting the CBEX scheme.
Justice Emeka Nwite, issued the order following submissions by the counsel for the EFCC, Fadila Yusuf, seeking the court’s approval to detain the promoters pending the conclusion of investigations into the alleged offences and their possible prosecution.
The EFCC stated that during the investigation, it found that ST Technologies, while registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission, was not authorised by the Securities and Exchange Commission to conduct investment activities.
Furthermore, it said the defendants had vacated their last known addresses in Lagos and Ogun States.
The EFCC had argued that a warrant of arrest was necessary to place the defendants on a red watch list to facilitate their capture and ensure they face charges.
The commission said its investigation had also established a prima facie case of an investment scam and that granting the application was in the interest of justice.
During an interview on Channels Television’s breakfast programme, The Morning Brief, on April 16, the EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, advised Nigerians against investing in a business without considering the legal framework that regulates it.
Oyewale said, “We know that for every business concern, you declare your profit either quarterly, annually or bi-annually, but if somebody says, ‘Bring your money; I’m going to give you a return in 30 days,’ you know that is not realistic; it’s just not pragmatic.
“Or if somebody says, ‘If you bring your money, we’re going to give you a 100% return on investment,’ that is not possible”.
Nigerian carrier, Air Peace, has clarified why its Benin to Abuja flight P47171 was delayed in the air on Friday.
In a statement issued by the Head of Corporate Communications, Ejike Ndiulo, Air Peace Airline on Saturday stated that during the aircraft’s descent into Abuja, the flight encountered turbulence as a result of adverse weather conditions, including thunderstorms.
The statement further stressed that in line with global aviation safety standards, “our crew activated appropriate safety protocols and held in a holding pattern until weather conditions improved.”
Social media users complained on Saturday that the aircraft hung in the air longer than necessary before landing.
Elanza news understands that when an aircraft is held in a holding pattern, this means the plane was instructed to fly a specific course around a designated point while waiting for permission from the control tower to proceed with its planned route, approach, or landing.
This is often due to factors like traffic congestion at the given airport, weather delays, or other operational issues that could result in an incident or accident if the aircraft had landed against instructions.
In simpler terms, a holding pattern is a temporary waiting area for an aircraft in the air, allowing it to remain airborne while awaiting further instructions for landing.
The statement further stated, “We are pleased to confirm that the aircraft landed safely and the passengers disembarked normally. Air Peace is unwavering in its commitment to ensuring the highest standards of safety across all our operations.”