A Successful Switch to Virtual Training in Nigeria

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MHI is currently working on a five-year project focused on improving performance in Nigeria’s distribution sector. In addition to other ongoing activities, we are providing technical training and capacity building programs within the distribution companies.
 
Nigeria has an optimistic customer metering and infrastructure growth plan, which brought forward a need for staff to enhance their skills. To implement its plans efficiently and effectively, the program aims to develop, deploy, evaluate, and sustain a variety of interventions and activities that will respond to the critical economic, political, and social development needs of the Nigerian electricity sector.
 
Initially, we were to perform our training role in this project in person in Nigeria. Under restrictions imposed by COVID-19, we have adapted our position to a solely virtual initiative. 
 
A blessing in disguise, the move to a virtual training program has allowed us to provide training and capacity building seminars to a much larger audience, including a greater focus on the integration of gender equality and social inclusion. Trainees have been able to join our seminars from home across many regions of Nigeria, and a broader pool of subject matter experts have been available to support the sessions. 
 
Since fall 2020, we have trained close to 600 staff from multiple distribution companies across Nigeria. In the coming months and years, we look forward to expanding our training programs to include more regions of Nigeria and additional seminar topics. 
 
As part of this project, we will continue to host virtual training sessions for staff in multiple distribution companies:
 
Project management training:
 
In fall 2020, we hosted the fundamentals of project management training for two distribution companies. We are planning additional courses for early 2021, which will provide training for an additional 500+ staff from multiple regions. Project management training is teaching staff how to track, manage, and deliver a project. This training supports the distribution companies in improving their delivery of the Meter Asset Provider (MAP) program.
 
Meter inspection audit and customer service training:
 
In fall 2020, we hosted the meter inspection audit and customer service training for two distribution companies. The course provided information on comprehensive physical inspection of customer meters and the importance of customer support to enhance the metering rollout program across the company. This training focuses on revenue protection, customer service, and loss reduction.