Attendance up significantly at annual WAPIC convention

The importance of clean, reliable power is a priority to the region's officials, and that was reflected in the attendance numbers at the West African Power Industry Convention (WAPIC), which took place in Lagos, Nigeria, Nov. 25 to Nov. 26.

“The buzz around the exhibition floor was electric with visitors wanting to learn about the latest products and services,” WAPIC Progam Director Natalie Bacon said. “During the opening of the conference the private sector unleashed their solutions for how to increase the current pace of electricity generation. From economic insight, funding requirements, political motivations, domestic gas foresight to innovative recruitment of the next generation of energy leaders...due to the honest and well-researched presentations the speakers had the room captivated and bursting with ideas.”

This was the 12th annual WAPIC. Attendance was up 37 percent from the previous year, with 1,815 people coming out for the event that featured Iyinoluwa Aboyeji, co-founder of Andela, Nigeria; Christopher Broughton, resident country director for Millennium Challenge Corp., Benin; Robert Dickerman, managing director and CEO of Enugu Electricity Distribution Co., Nigeria; Eyo Ekpo, former commissioner for NERC and team lead for the Presidential Task Force on Power, Nigeria; Olufunke Jones, country head for Power and Energy, Ecobank, Nigeria; Mason Oghenejobo, strategy and portfolio adviser for Seplat, Nigeria; Alex Osei, general manager, MIS, Electricity Co. of Ghana; and Mustapha Zakaria-Ciss, coordinator for West African Power Pool, Benin, as speakers.

“From a glamorous gala dinner to private behind-the-scenes meetings,” Bacon said, “WAPIC was the place to do business. Attended by the movers and shakers of the regional power industry, there were many opportunities to meet and exchange business cards with the senior delegation of decision makers.”

WAPIC's clean power master class has been set for Nov. 15. The West African Power Industry Awards will take place Nov. 16; strategic conference days are slated for Nov. 16 to Nov. 17, the same day as the organization's expo, which will be held again in Lagos.

For more information about WAPIC events, log on to www.wapicforum.com.