SSDC Visits LPV Technologies, Seeks Regional Training Hubs for Capacity Building

Emma Okonji

The South-South Development Commission (SSDC), yesterday, visited the production facilities of LPV Technologies, the local manufacturers of industrial embedded solar panels, located in Ikotun, Lagos, seeking partnership for the establishment of training hubs at various regions in the country.

Managing Director of SSDC, Usoro Akpabio, who led the visiting team, expressed satisfaction about the automated manufacturing and assembling plants of LPV Technologies, as well as the quality assurance and control in the factory.

She also assured its management of a partnership that would lead to the establishment of training hubs in some regions of the country, where LPV Technologies will train Nigerian youths on skills development and skills transfer in the area of clean energy, in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“Nigeria is keen at driving local content, and at the same time, transiting to clean energy, which LPV Technologies is promoting. The mandate of the South-South Development Commission is to enhance regional economic development, and this aligns with a drive for industrialization, youth and women empowerment, with focus on clean energy for a safe environment.

“The visit is a follow-up on our high-level engagement with the Rural Electrification Agency, where we now found out that they’re actually supporting and projecting local manufacturers of solar light in Nigeria. Part of the things we are driving from this visit is skills transfer for the youth of the regions, and of course, Nigeria,” Akpabio said.

She further explained that the visit would encourage LPV Technologies to venture into the production of smaller embedded solar panels for street lights across Nigeria to boost the off-grid system.

Managing Director, LPV Technologies, Nzan Ogbe, said the company had engaged several authorities with regards to supporting the deployment of solar in communities, adding that the SSDC is very critical to the development of Nigeria in the area of renewable energy, hence the visit to see things for themselves.

“We are looking at strategic partnership that will fashion out ways in which LPV Technologies can support government in training, skills development, in after-sales service, and in setting up distribution networks for our products so that people can have access to genuine, top-notch panels rather than the fake panels that people keep selling in the country,” Ogbe said.

According to him, the current total capacity of solar panels produced in the Lagos factory is 100 megawatts, with plans to scale it up in the next three to six months to 300 megawatts capacity.

“Currently, our machines have the capacity to produce over 400 industrial solar panels daily, which amounts to about 180,000 yearly, with continuous maintenance of the machines and facilities, and we are also looking at setting up solar street light manufacturing plant somewhere in the Niger Delta region.

“We will set up training centres and warehouses, including distribution outlets in a couple of states, to enhance the entire South-south communities, working with the South-South Development Commission,” Ogbe further said.