Dangote Group’s Joseph Makoju, Akon Lighting Africa and the AfDB Big Winners at WAPIC's West African Power Industry Awards in Lagos

Lagos, Nigeria, November 28, 2015 --(PR.com)-- Joseph Makoju, Honorary Advisor for the Dangote Group, was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Regional Award during the sold-out gala dinner at the West African Power Industry Awards in Lagos on Tuesday evening. Akon Lighting Africa scored a double nod of approval from the industry with two awards, namely Best Renewable Energy Project and CSR Initiative of the Year. The African Development Bank walked away with the Power Transaction of the Year accolade for its OMVG Energy Project.

Some 200 top power professionals gathered for the second edition of the coveted awards evening to cheer on and celebrate well-known industry pioneers and companies in seven different awards categories. The awards form part of the West African Power Industry Convention (WAPIC) which is taking place this week at the Eko Hotel & Suites in Lagos.

The full list of winners and runners-up in the West African Power Industry Awards 2015 are:

Lifetime Achievement - Regional Award, West Africa
Winner: Joseph Makoju, Honorary Advisor, Dangote Group, Nigeria

Joseph Makoju has been honorary adviser to the President and chief executive of the Dangote Group since 2009. Before joining the Dangote Group, he worked in several world-class organisations including Shell-BP; Blue Circle (UK) and WAPCO which he headed as managing director and chief executive for about a decade before taking up an appointment as managing director and chief executive of National Electric Power Authority. Mr Makoju served as special adviser (electric power) to the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria under two separate administrations. He was pioneer chairman of the board of the West African Power Pool for eight years and today remains an honorary member of the board.

Finalists:
- Abubakar Sani Sambo, Chairman, Nigerian Member Committee, World Energy Council, Nigeria
- Henry Paul Batchi Baldeh, Senior Vice President + Head of Power, Africa Finance Corporation, Nigeria
- Kandeh Yumkella, CEO, SE4All initiative, Sierra Leone
- Mahama Kappiah, Executive Director, ECOWAS Regional Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency, Ghana
- Oladele Amoda, Eko Electricity Distribution, Managing Director + CEO, Nigeria
- Reuben Okeke, Director General, NAPTIN, Nigeria

Power Transaction of the Year
Winner: African Development Bank - OMVG Energy Project, The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau and Senegal

In September 2015 the African Development Bank approved a €121.5-million package to the Gambia River Basin Development Organization (OMVG) to improve electricity access and provide renewable, clean and affordable energy in The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau and Senegal. The OMVG Energy Project will address these power supply constraints through the development of the Sambangalou hydro-electricity dam with an installed capacity of 128 MW and the construction of an interconnection network for the evacuation of energy, comprising 1,677 km of 225 kV lines, 15 high/medium voltage transformer stations, and two load dispatch centres.

Finalists:
- Africa Finance Corporation, Sumitomo Corporation of Japan, African Infrastructure Investment Managers, Cenpower Holdings and FMO - Kpone Independent Power Project, Ghana
- African Development Bank + European Investment Bank - Electricity Distribution Network, Guinea Bissau
- Diamond Bank, Geometric, Stanbic, AfriGem + Aba IPP, The Aba Integrated Power Project, Nigeria
- European Investment Bank, European Union + AFD, Sonabel Solar Project, Burkina Faso
- World Bank, African Development Bank, European Investment Bank + German Export Bank, Transco CLSG Interconnection Line, Ivory Coast, Guinea, Liberia + Sierra Leone

Excellence in Power Generation
Winner: Azito Energie SA, Ivory Coast

Finalists:
- Egbin Power PLC, Nigeria
- Niger Delta Power Holding Company Ltd, Nigeria
- Transcorp Ughelli Power Limited, Nigeria
- Volta River Authority, Ghana

Best Renewable Energy Project
Winner: Akon Lighting Africa

Finalists:
- Azuri Technologies + Oasis African Resources, Ghana
- Kaleta Hydroelectric Dam, Guinea
- Namene Energy International Limited, Togo/Ghana
- Otis Engineering, Nigeria
- Power up Gambia, Gambia

Best Off-Grid Electrification Project
Winner: Azuri Technologies & Oasis Africa Resources, Ghana

Finalists:
- Arnergy Solar Limited, Nigeria
- Namene Energy International Limited, Togo + Ghana
- Oolu, Senegal
- PEG, Ghana
- Power Up Gambia, Gambia

CSR Initiative of the Year
Winner: Akon Lighting Africa, Various

Finalists:
- Green Village Electricity project, Nigeria
- Power up Gambia, Gambia
- Skipper Nigeria Limited, Nigeria
- Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa, Green Energy + Biofuels Bio-refinery project, Nigeria

Excellence in Power Transmission or Distribution
Winner: GRIDCo, Ghana

Finalists:
- Abuja Electricity Distribution Company, Nigeria
- Eko Electricity Distribution Plc, Nigeria
- DEXTRON Engineering Limited, Nigeria
- Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company Plc, Nigeria
- Nsquared Integrated Electric Company Ltd, Nigeria
- OTIS Engineering, Nigeria

The West African Power Industry Convention 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 power events by Spintelligent are African Utility Week in Cape Town and EAPIC in Nairobi.