The Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission (NAEC), in collaboration with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), on Monday, 12 May, 2025, launched a five-day regional training programme under the African Regional Cooperative Agreement for Research, Development and Training related to Nuclear Science and Technology (AFRA). The event is taking place at the Reiz Continental Hotel, Abuja.

The programme, titled “Regional Training Course on Financial Analysis of Large-Scale Energy Projects, Including Nuclear Power,” aims to enhance the financial evaluation capabilities of African countries in the energy sector. It focuses particularly on the use of the IAEA’s FINPLAN tool to assess the economic feasibility of electricity generation projects.

In his opening remarks, NAEC Acting Chairman, Engr. Anthony Ekedegwa, emphasized the critical energy challenges facing Africa and their impact on socio-economic development. “One of the major challenges in nuclear power development is funding and financial constraints, which many countries struggle to overcome. This training is therefore designed to equip participants with the necessary skills to analyze and plan power generation projects using the FINPLAN model,” he stated.
Engr. Ekedegwa expressed hope that the training will expand participants’ knowledge and contribute to developing a cadre of trained personnel capable of conducting robust financial analyses for power projects in Africa. This, he noted, is essential for aligning energy development strategies with national financial and natural resource capacities.

The course includes instruction in financial theory, an overview of financing mechanisms for power projects—especially in the context of developing nations—and hands-on experience using the FINPLAN tool. The tool assesses the financial viability of both existing and planned power generation facilities by accounting for costs related to infrastructure, reserve capacity, and unmet electricity demand.
Participants from 22 African countries, including Nigeria, are attending the programme. Expert guidance is being provided by IAEA Resource Persons; Ahmed Irej Jalal, Koshikwinja Pacifique, Ms. Mberia Nancy, and Matic Devor.

The Director of Nuclear Power Plant Development(NAEC) and National Project Counterpart, Prof. Abdulahi Mati, earlier welcomed participants to the event. In addition to energy, AFRA supports projects across various sectors including food and agriculture, health, water management, nuclear safety, and knowledge management.

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