By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Young innovators, SMEs and start-ups in the power sector in West Africa have been urged to use to the forthcoming West African Power Industry Convention holding in Lagos on November 24, 2016, at the Eko Hotel & Suites, Lagos, to showcase their inventions and ideas.
WAPIC Innovation Hub programme director, Yolisa Nyoka, disclosed that the innovators would be given the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to showcase their new solutions, game changing technology and inventions at the event.
She said, “Find a solution that helps stakeholders better manage power in West Africa and you and the industry are primed to strike gold,” stating further that “we invite the brightest minds in Nigeria and the region to share their ideas and solutions with the power industry and investors at WAPIC who will help them take their projects to the next level and out into the world where they can make a real difference.”
Yolisa explained that, “Nigerians are naturally very innovative and the Innovation Hub aims to bridge the gap between this kind of blue sky thinking and stakeholders in the power sector to bring power utilities and their customers closer together.
“The telecoms sector is a great example of such collaborations. Not only will the WAPIC Innovation Hub gather start-ups, SMEs and innovators and introduce them to investors, financiers and seasoned industry experts, the brightest solution or idea will be selected for the WAPIC New Innovation Award.”
Part of the programme of the Innovation Hub is a look at specific, identified problem sets in the power sector where innovation and new technologies can make a huge difference. These problem sets include:
– Using applications and technology for increased revenue collection
– Winning the consumer market
– Re-thinking supply chain management
– Innovation for renewable energy
Any SMEs, start-ups and young innovators who are interested in taking part in the Innovation Hub, are welcome to contact the organisers.
WAPIC, a flagship, regional conference and exhibition, will return to Lagos with an exciting interactive programme that reflects the dynamic energy landscape of the region and will once again attract some 2000 power professionals, high-level experts and industry stalwarts during the 13th edition of the event.
Industry awards
The third edition of the hugely successful West African Power Industry Awards will also take place at this year’s WAPIC during a gala dinner evening when industry pioneers and projects will be recognised and celebrated in seven different categories.
Exciting time for the power industry in West Africa
As in previous years of this flagship power event in the region, WAPIC has already secured impressive industry support. Global information and telecommunication giant Huawei will return as the exclusive diamond sponsor for the event for the third time. Lucy Electric, a global secondary distribution leader in the electricity sector, is a platinum sponsor.
WAPIC is organised by Spintelligent, leading Cape Town-based trade exhibition and conference organiser, and the African office of Clarion Events Ltd, based in the UK. Other flagship events in Spintelligent’s power portfolio on the continent are African Utility Week, the East African Power Industry Convention (EAPIC), iPAD Rwanda Energy Infrastructure Forum and iPAD Cameroon Energy & Infrastructure Forum.