Schneider Electric has partnered with the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, as part of efforts to deepen its energy skills development initiatives across Nigeria, the company disclosed in a statement on Monday.
The partnership includes the donation of industry-specific training equipment to FUTO’s Electrical Engineering Department, aimed at equipping students with practical, energy-related technical skills aligned with global standards.
According to the company, the contribution forms part of Schneider Electric’s wider Access to Education training programme in West Africa, through which it has already surpassed its target of training one million people in energy management by 2025.
The initiative is a key pillar of its commitment to an inclusive energy transition and youth empowerment.
The latest intervention also follows a similar donation made earlier this year to three Lagos technical colleges under the Lagos State Technical and Vocational Education Board.
At FUTO, students will now have access to customised didactic benches covering domestic wiring and industrial motor starter applications. The equipment is designed to give learners hands-on experience that bridges the gap between classroom theory and real-world industry practice.
Head of the Electrical Engineering Department at FUTO, Professor Matthew Olubiwe, said the donation would significantly strengthen students’ hands-on learning and help close the gap between academic training and industry expectations.
“We extend our sincere appreciation to the Schneider Electric Foundation for its generous donation of didactic training bench equipment,” he said. “This contribution is helping bridge the gap between theoretical instruction and industrial practice.”
Schneider Electric Foundation Delegate for West Africa, Funmilayo Olakitan, said universities play a critical role in shaping Nigeria’s future workforce, noting that the partnership ensures students gain exposure to the same tools and technologies used in today’s energy industry.
“This positions them not only for local employment but also for global competitiveness,” she said.
Schneider Electric noted that the partnership with FUTO marks an expansion of its educational footprint beyond Lagos into eastern Nigeria. With universities offering longer and more comprehensive programmes of study, the company views FUTO as a strategic partner in developing engineers and entrepreneurs who will drive the continent’s energy transition.
Alongside the equipment, Schneider Electric also provided intensive training for university instructors to strengthen knowledge transfer.
“Our vision is not simply to donate equipment but to invest in the future of Nigerian youth. By embedding industry knowledge into education, we are empowering the next generation to take their place in the continent’s energy transition,” Olakitan added.
