Welcome to the 40th episode of the #MyEnergyLife series, a weekly LinkedIn feature designed to highlight, engage with, and empower emerging energy professionals across Africa. Through a series of articles, we will explore the many career paths that exist in the energy industry. Our aim is to provide valuable insights and counsel to support the career aspirations of young professionals in the energy industry.In this episode, we meet Chimereze Nwosu , an Advisor, Sustainable Energy Access(Clean Cooking and EVs) at Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH . Chimereze Nwosu shares his story of how he got started in the energy industry, detailing his initial challenges and offering invaluable advice to fellow young professionals seeking their path in this dynamic industry.Full NameChimereze NwosuCurrent Company NameDeutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbHCurrent Job TitleAdvisor, Sustainable Energy Access(Clean Cooking and EVs)SpecializationEnergy AccessCountry of OriginNigeria Tell us about your journey in the energy industry.I started off as an intern in the rural electrification unit of the Nigerian Energy Support Programme (NESP) in 2015. After which I moved on to a brief consultancy spell with the same unit and then got integrated into the team. My portfolio saw me cover topics ranging from off & on-grid electrification, clean cooking, blockchain, gender and eventually Electric Vehicles. Topics focused on policy and framework support to stakeholders, capacity building as well as technical advisory to various stakeholders. It has been an interesting career so far and I am open to and looking forward to the next stage.What do you do in your current role at your company?I coordinate activities within NESP on clean cooking and electric mobility. So this includes facilitating stakeholder engagements, planning and project implementation, also representing the project on matters affecting sustainable energy (clean cooking) and electric mobility in private & public forums. This covers across sectors and stakeholders.Could you describe your typical day at work?A typical day at work starts with checking my schedule for the day and setting various reminders for meetings and activities. Then exchanges with my awesome team members and strategizing on executing certain activities for the day.Then after meetings, it’s the much desired refueling for the body which is lunch and then the day pretty much continues.What are some of the challenges you have faced in the industry?So the major challenges would be managing stakeholder engagements and bureaucracies have to be top on my list. These apply to managing some expectations from partners who “haven’t gotten the gist” fully about how my organization operates.It takes “the grace of God” some times to navigate these. Then there are bureaucracies that exist within certain organizations that elongate seemingly simple processes. From getting responses on areas of collaborations or next steps, to some approvals that could be done electronically and the likes. Although this is pretty common with the diverse stakeholders we work with.Not every organisation has the same policies as we do and these have to always be respected too.These make implementation more challenging, but we have been fortunate to always find a way.”The impact we create at the end of the day. The thousands of people who now have energy access is very much rewarding.” Chimereze at a panel session on gender at the 2022 ECOWAS Sustainability Energy Forum where represented GIZ as the Gender Focal Person. (To his immediate right is Dr. Adama Gassama-Jallow of the Min. of Petroleum & Energy of The Gambia, next is Ifey Ikeonu (an energy policy, markets & regulation consultant and also the Moderator), lastly is Raquel Sellers (Head of Spanish Cooperation for ECOWAS) What is the most fun thing you love about your work?The platforms and opportunities to meet and engage with various stakeholders and people. It’s been so rewarding getting to meet awesome people and see the impact of the work we spend hours behind the laptops doing.How do you balance work and life?I try to ensure that work ends when it should and life begins and continues when it does. Managing schedules and timelines is key. In order words, know how best to manage the “9-5”window because the work will continue regardless of your mental and physical state.What are the core hard skills someone in your field should have?Technical competence across various and major topics (certifications and qualifications in sustainable energy topics).What soft skills should someone in your field have?Good communication skills, emotional intelligence, teamwork and leadership. These are key when managing stakeholders of different backgrounds and levels. Chimereze at the 2023 Africa E-Mobility Conference where he was a panelist representing GIZ What is the best thing about your work?The impact we create at the end of the day. The thousands of people who now have energy access is very much rewarding.What would you consider a highlight of your career?Although it’s always been more of teamwork, however, the impacts we made on mini-grid regulations, grid code reviews, supporting system planning at TCN through capacity development and engagement, providing access to finance for local companies to ensure projects were deployed and lives were impacted positively.What are you passionate about outside of work?I’m a huge fan of technology…so gadgets, software, processes that have made everyday living more interesting and enriching… I live for such developments! Chimereze at an NESP meetup event to provide awareness on a hackathon designed to leverage blockchain to provide solutions for the energy sector, particularly via solar mini-grids How do you think that your work makes a difference in the energy space?So, it affects the entire value chain. From generating results, data and inputs for market intelligence which leads to improved planning and implementation, to the high quality of engagement that we are involved in to ensure that the sector is steadily progressing.What advice do you have for someone new to the industry?I cannot overemphasize the importance of collaborations and networking. Its key to implementation.If you enjoyed reading this, do not hesitate to follow theenergy.africaSee you in the next article!
Episode 40: Beyond Electrification: Advocating for Clean Cooking and Electric Vehicles in Nigeria – MyEnergyLife Series
