Participants praise the exhibition “Energy, Water and the Internet of Things”

As the 2024 edition of the Power, Water, and Internet of Things (IoT) Exhibition concluded in Lagos on Thursday, attendees agreed that the exhibition is a catalyst for a renaissance in the energy sector in the West African region. The three-day event, held at the Landmark Centre on Victoria Island in Lagos, included a “Way Forward” conference attended by more than 50 industry leaders.

Some of the participants shared their observations with the media. Dr. Bala Tyoden, Deputy Director of the Nigeria Rural Electrification Agency, praised the exhibition for bringing together players from different sectors to collaborate and share knowledge. He urged the organizers to continue to expand the event annually. “Nigeria is facing serious challenges in the areas of water and energy. This exhibition is a great eye-opener for stakeholders and I hope everyone will get involved,” said Dr. Tyoden.

“There is a huge link between energy, water and consumption and this forum brings together stakeholders who are willing and eager to contribute to the development of the country. I am talking about private sector players. So this forum is a big platform where you can leverage,” added Dr Tyoden.

Olajide Aminu Ibrahim, Huawei Country Sales Manager, highlighted the potential for renewable energy to drive growth in the energy sector. “Nigerians need to embrace renewable energy. This is the way to go; in my home, my children never experience power cuts because we use solar energy. If we want to improve this economy, we need to consider off-grid energy. We don’t pay for the sun, so why can’t we use it as an energy source for ourselves? This exhibition is not only timely but also important for the development of the industry,” he said.

Shitij Taneja, Managing Director of Vertex Group, the company organising the exhibition, emphasised the importance of exploring greener, more sustainable sources of energy, given the challenges of energy supply and distribution in Nigeria. “A lot of investors come to this exhibition, especially from the technology and energy sectors. It is also about how to effectively implement solar energy. The exhibition covers everything from back-up power in homes to the importance of renewable energy in general,” Taneja said.

“In the technology sector, about seventy billion dollars has been invested in startups in Africa in the last year and it is a challenge to bridge that gap as quickly as possible. In the energy sector, it is also a significant number. Nigeria has a population and this exhibition will be very significant for the country with over 75 exhibitors from the solar, clean energy, energy efficiency and water sectors. It is a mix of stakeholders from the energy sector. There are also players from the water sector and it is a very large exhibition at the moment,” Taneja continued.

“We created this program to explore the benefits of technology and other related value chains. We are including energy-efficient devices that will ensure efficient use of energy,” Taneja concluded.