Global energy technology leader Schneider Electric hosted its Innovation Day Nigeria 2025 in Lagos, highlighting smart infrastructure, automation, and energy efficiency solutions under the theme “Competitive Advantage Through Automation and Sustainability.”
The event held on Tuesday brought together over 400 customers, 70 C-level executives, senior government officials, and business leaders to explore how digital innovation can accelerate Nigeria’s energy transition and industrial growth.
Key participants included Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu, CEO of Ikeja Electric Folake Soetan, Director General & Chief Executive Officer of the Energy Commission of Nigeria Dr Mustapha Abdullahi, Consul General of France in Nigeria Laurent Favier, and Senior Director of SEforAll Anita Otubu, alongside top Schneider Electric executives such as Zone President of the Middle East and Africa Walid Sheta.
In his welcome address, Country President Schneider Electric English-Speaking Africa Ajibola Akindele highlighted the company’s role in electrifying, automating, and digitising Nigeria’s energy sector.
“In 2000, we began with just one employee. Twenty-five years later, we have grown to over 200 employees, supporting critical infrastructure across energy, power and grid, data centres, buildings, telecommunications, and manufacturing,” he said.
Akindele emphasised Schneider Electric’s impact, noting that the company now powers 100 per cent of the country’s electricity production, 95 per cent of refining operations, and 55 per cent of food production. Within Lagos, he said, “There’s a 65 per cent chance that the electrons powering your home or office flow through Schneider Electric equipment.”
The company also highlighted its commitment to education and technical skills development. Through partnerships with five higher institutions, including the University of Ibadan, Federal University of Technology Owerri, Yaba College of Technology, Federal University of Technology Akure, and LASTVEB, over 13,000 youths have been trained in technical and energy skills. Projects such as the Bonny Multimodal Centre provide uninterrupted power for educational and testing facilities, ensuring students have reliable access to energy.
Representing the Minister of Power, Adedayo Olowoniyi reaffirmed the government’s support for energy sector reforms, policy updates, and private sector collaboration.
“The government remains committed to supporting innovation and partnerships that drive efficiency, sustainability, and inclusive growth,” he said, noting Schneider Electric’s leadership in energy efficiency and digital automation.
Zone President, Middle East and Africa Walid Sheta outlined four global megatrends shaping the energy sector: energy transition, digitisation and artificial intelligence, infrastructure development, and global rebalancing.
He highlighted Schneider Electric’s EcoStruxure solutions, citing Eko Atlantic City, where the company electrified 99 per cent of the city’s electricity with scalable infrastructure supporting sustainable urban development.
The Schneider Electric Smart Factory in Lexington, Kentucky, recognised as an Advanced Sustainability Lighthouse by the World Economic Forum, which achieved significant reductions in energy consumption, equipment downtime, and CO₂ emissions; and the National Electricity Company in Senegal, where EcoStruxure solutions cut recovery time from three hours to three minutes and achieved annual energy savings equivalent to €21m.
“By combining digital and electrical solutions, we deliver sustainability at scale. Our vision is to drive automation, electrification, and digitalisation across industries, businesses, and homes to create efficiency and sustainable growth for all,” Sheta said.
The event also featured an Industrial Panel Session, curated by Business Day, which examined how policy, innovation, and investment can accelerate Nigeria’s energy transition. Panellists discussed strategies to improve energy efficiency, expand access, and foster collaboration between government, industry, and technology providers.
Schneider Electric Innovation Day 2025 showcased how smart infrastructure, energy efficiency, and automation technologies can reshape Nigeria’s energy landscape, creating opportunities for industrial growth, sustainability, and community development.
