By Francis Emechete (LLM)
In the ever-evolving landscape of Nigeria’s power sector, the past year has ushered in a rare and remarkable chapter under the leadership of Engr. Jennifer Adighije, the Managing Director/CEO of the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC).
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Appointed in August 2024, Engr. Adighije has brought to the role not only a stellar engineering background but also a leadership approach marked by clarity of purpose, unwavering integrity, and a resolute focus on results.
In just one year, her tenure has redefined performance benchmarks and significantly elevated NDPHC’s profile within and beyond Nigeria’s energy ecosystem.
Through bold strategic interventions, she has repositioned the company as a central pillar in the nation’s electricity value chain.
Under her stewardship, previously idle or grossly underutilized power plants hampered by longstanding commercial and technical bottlenecks have been revived and optimized.
The reintegration of these stranded assets into the national grid has delivered measurable megawatts, improving electricity supply and delivering tangible benefits to millions of Nigerians.
Engr. Jennifer Adighije has led a wave of transformative reforms at NDPHC, positioning the organization as a more commercially agile, operationally credible, and future-ready player in Nigeria’s electricity value chain.
One of her most impactful initiatives has been the implementation of strategic bilateral sales agreements, which enable NDPHC to supply power directly to large, creditworthy Eligible Customers.
This shift has significantly boosted revenue, improved market visibility, and reduced the company’s reliance on default-prone centralized offtakers thereby enhancing its financial resilience and commercial sustainability.
Understanding the need for a rule-based electricity market, Engr. Adighije prioritized regulatory compliance and strengthened institutional engagement with key sector stakeholders including NERC, TCN, and NISO.
This proactive posture has not only restored stakeholder confidence but has also elevated NDPHC’s credibility and operational synergy across the power sector.
Equally remarkable is her commitment to human capital development. Through the promotion of meritocracy, targeted training programs, and a renewed focus on career growth, she has revitalized staff morale and cultivated a performance-driven culture where employees are empowered to contribute meaningfully.
Moreover, Engr. Adighije has championed NDPHC’s digital transformation by initiating the integration of NIPP power plants into the national SCADA/EMS platform, in line with NERC’s 2025 compliance mandate.
This forward-looking move is set to enhance real-time operational visibility, improve dispatch efficiency, and foster seamless technical coordination with grid operators positioning NDPHC as a more data-driven, responsive, and system-aligned generation company.
Under the visionary leadership of Engr. Jennifer Adighije, NDPHC has reached a defining milestone by securing Joint Development Agreements (JDAs) with renowned global technology partners that includes, NASENI, Oracle, Microsoft Nigeria, and Haier Technologies.
These groundbreaking collaborations represent a strategic leap toward digital transformation, innovation, and local content development in Nigeria’s power sector.
Through these JDAs, NDPHC is deploying advanced digital tools, embracing smart energy infrastructure, and fostering local manufacturing capabilities for critical power components such as transformers, meters, and switchgear.
Engr. Adighije’s foresight in initiating these partnerships reflects her unwavering commitment to making NDPHC a future-ready utility responsive to Nigeria’s energy realities while aligning with global technological trends.
At this critical juncture in Nigeria’s energy journey, the power sector is indeed fortunate to have Engr. Jennifer Adighije leading NDPHC.
Appointed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, her bold leadership, technical depth, and reform-minded vision have already begun to yield tangible results in generation recovery, commercial innovation, operational governance, and strategic modernization.
Engr. Adighije has infused the sector with renewed urgency, transparency, and performance, proving that transformational outcomes are possible with the right leadership.
What truly sets Engr. Jennifer Adighije apart is not only her impressive technical expertise but also her clarity of vision, transparent leadership style, and exceptional ability to inspire excellence across all levels of the organization from the boardroom to the power plant floor.
In a sector long hindered by bureaucratic inertia and public skepticism, her bold and decisive approach has reignited both stakeholder and public confidence in the potential of a government-owned power company to deliver real, measurable impact.
Her appointment is more than a nod to her competence; it is a bold statement by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu that sustainable progress in Nigeria’s power sector begins with placing visionary, capable leaders in positions that truly matter.
As Engr. Adighije marks one year of transformative leadership at the helm of NDPHC, it is clear that she is doing far more than managing an organization.
She is shaping a legacy. Her tenure so far exemplifies what is possible when competence meets courage, and when leadership is anchored not in personal ambition, but in service to the nation.
(Francis Emechete is an Energy Lawyer)
