Member profile: Mr Kelechi Eke FEI Chartered Energy Manager

When did you first become interested in energy?

I first became interested in energy when I was 21 years old, and I was fascinated learning about the world of eternal entropy, energy supply chain and energy security during my secondary school education.

Tell us a little about your current job

Currently, I work as an Asset Manager at Egbin Power PLC, the largest thermal power plant in West Africa.

I’m responsible for managing the technical and commercial health of the company’s 1.32GW power generation assets. The main aim is to generate and export electricity to Nigeria’s National Grid and customers in a safe, profitable and sustainable manner all while complying with the legal and statutory requirements.

The most rewarding part of my job is knowing the impact that I’m making in providing access to electricity for all Nigerians, where my work supplies around 14% of the Grid-connected power generation in the country. This has helped to stimulate the development of local SMEs as well as reducing poverty and unemployment in Nigeria.

What inspired you to pursue this career, and what path did you take to get there?

What had initially inspired me to pursue a career in energy was the realisation that energy is eternal: it cannot neither be created nor destroyed but only transformed; and that everything in the world derives from energy. With this dawning on me, I decided that a career within energy would give me a pivotal platform to have a positive influence in the life of people all over the world.

In order to get there, I studied a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Nigeria Nsukka. Thereafter, I spent around 14 years working for Shell Petroleum Development of Nigeria Limited within areas such as energy management, asset management, facility management, project management and maintenance and reliability engineering.

Afterwards, I worked as an Energy Consultant across Nigeria’s oil and gas and FMCG sectors.

My biggest achievement in my career has been providing safe, reliable and affordable access to electricity for Nigeria’s Niger Delta hydrocarbon-producing communities which in turn has helped to alleviate poverty and unemployment in these neglected areas.

How has being a Chartered Energy Manager benefitted you in your career?

Being a Chartered Energy Manager has enabled me to deploy my competence in energy management to reduce carbon footprint through proactive energy demand-side management, creating awareness about and deploying energy-efficient products and offering support for the development of Nigeria’s renewable energy projects.

The biggest reason why I’d recommend applying for this title is to gain access to a platform where qualified energy professionals from all over the world share ideas about improving pressing issues such as global energy security. Alongside my other professional titles, my Chartered Energy Manager title allows me to apply my knowledge and skill within the sector as well as mentoring and nurturing younger practitioners.

What one piece of advice would you give to an aspiring Chartered Energy Manager?

I would advise any aspiring Chartered Energy Managers to be committed to environmental sustainability in thought, word and in deed, while keeping in mind the ‘3D Drivers’ of energy: Decarbonisation, Digitisation and Decentralisation.

Away from work, what do you like to do in your spare time?

During my spare time, I travel across the world for wildlife safari and to play golf.

And finally… What does your Chartered Energy Manager accreditation truly mean to you?

My Chartered Energy Manager title signifies global professional recognition amongst the foremost energy professionals in the world.

Having this title makes me feel a sense of belonging amongst the best professionals who are all united in contributing towards improving access to energy.

Interested in applying for Chartered Energy Manager? For more information on how to apply, please click here.