How Nigeria can achieve 24-hour power supply – MD/CEO Abuja Disco, Chijioke Okwuokenye

Chijioke Okwuokenye, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), has shared insights into his career journey and his current role. Born in Benin, Edo State, and raised in Benin, Okwuokenye attended the University of Benin, where he earned his first degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering and a master's degree in Electrical Power Systems.

He attributes his early passion for engineering to his father, a civil engineer, who exposed him to various engineering tasks from an early age.

Okwuokenye entered the power sector in Nigeria by applying for a position as a distribution substation operator with the Benin Electricity Distribution Company, where he had the opportunity to work with OND-qualified individuals. After rising through the ranks, he became the MD and CEO of AEDC.

Reflecting on his early career, Okwuokenye shares two challenging periods: balancing work and school while pursuing a master's degree, and leading the due diligence for the takeover of a privatised disco in Port Harcourt. These experiences taught him the importance of balancing responsibilities and the value of effective leadership.

Okwuokenye emphasizes that leadership is a skill that can be developed over time through responsibility and trust from colleagues. For him, the defining moment of his career has been the privilege of leading AEDC, a workforce of over 3,000 people and being accountable to more than 1.2 million customers.