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Rahila
Thomas
Chairman
Rahila Thomas
Rahila Thomas has over 20 years of combined public and private sector work experience in the power sector. She has an extensive knowledge of all aspects of the Nigeria Electricity Supply Industry from generation, transmission to distribution with respect to how the industry has evolved in structure, management, operations and performance.
Rahila was lead advisor in supporting the Senate Committee of the 9th National Assembly on Power in the preparation of the Electricity Bill enacted in June 2023, which has decentralised the Nigerian electricity market with greater involvement by State Governments. She is the Country Director of EMRC in Nigeria leading and managing an interdisciplinary and dynamic team of consultants and associates that provide transaction advisory, industry-wide power market analysis, financial and techno-economic due diligence, tariff design, policy and regulatory support. She previously worked as Technical Adviser on the Regulatory & Transaction Team of the Presidential Task Force on Power (PTFP) where she was involved in the unbundling process of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), preparation of the Power Sector Roadmap 2010, development of the new market and earlier privatisation processes.
Rahila has held several technical advisory positions to three consecutive Ministers of the Power Sector in Nigeria and was Special Assistant on Energy to Hon. Minister/Deputy Chairman, National Planning Commission. Earlier in her career, she was a core member of the Electric Power Team in the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) driving the Nigeria power sector reform programme where she participated in the preparation of the National Electric Power Policy 2001, EPSR Act 2005, the Market Rules, Grid Codes and Multi-Year Tariff Order (MYTO). She brings proven experience as a power sector expert and strategist with a BSc in Business Administration, MSc in Energy Finance and Galileo Master Certificate (GMC) on Renewable Energy Solutions, Management and Finance.
Sharfuddeen Zubair Mahmoud
Director
Sharfuddeen Zubair Mahmoud
Sharfuddeen Zubair Mahmoud is a versatile professional with diverse experience in Electricity Regulation, Risk Management, Banking and Finance. He graduated from the Bayero University Kano in 1985 with B.Sc. (Business Administration) 2:1 and had an MBA from the same institution in 1993. Presently he is a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Management (FNIM), Fellow Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (FCNA) and Fellow Institute of Credit Administrators (FICA).
He joined the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) in June 2007 as the pioneer AGM/Head-Market Analysis and Compliance in the Market Competition and Rates (MCR) Division and was at various times Head-Finance and Management Services Division, Head-Finance and Accounts/CFO, and Head-Regulatory Financial Accounts Unit before becoming the General Manager/Head- Market Competition and Rates Division in 2017. Prior to Joining NERC, Mallam Sharfuddeen who started his working career with the Kano State Government in 1986, had a banking career that spanned almost 20years beginning from 1987 at Icon Ltd (Merchant Bankers), from where he joined Diamond Bank Ltd in 1993. Between June-Dec 1998 he served at INEC as a Personal Assistant to the National Commissioner i/c Finance (Prof S.A.S Galadanci). In 1999 he joined International Trust Bank (ITB) and subsequently moved to the Bank of Industry (BOI) in 2005 where he set up the Risk Management Division and served as the pioneer Chief Risk Officer. He is credited for drafting BOI’s first Credit Policy Manual.
Mal. Sharfuddeen Mahmoud has performed numerous strategic and often very critical assignments in the Nigerian Power Sector and has served in numerous committees amongst which are: Member Nigerian Distribution Sector Recovery Program (DISREP) Technical Committee, Secretary Initial Stakeholder Advisory Panel (iSAP), Chairman of the Committee for the Partial Activation of Contracts in the Nigerian Power Sector which took effect 1st July 2022, Chairman Service Based Tariff Committee that developed the Service Based Tariff regime, Co-Chairman NERC/NMDPRA Technical Committee on Gas to Power, Co-Chairman NERC/BPE Technical Working Group, and Member Federal Government Committee For the Review of Domestic Gas Pricing Framework (2020). He also coordinated the team that developed the Performance Improvement Plans (PIP) for both DisCos and TCN. Since 2018, as Head of the MCR Division, he has been responsible for coordinating the Minor and Extra Ordinary Tariff reviews conducted by the NERC.
Aside his role in the Nigerian Electricity Market Mal. Mahmoud is also actively involved in providing support to the regional power pool in his capacity as the Chairman of the Tariff and Pricing Working Group of the Ecowas Regional Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERERA).
Mallam Sharfuddeen is a recipient of many awards notable of which is NERC’s Leadership award Management Staff category for 2022. He has also presented numerous papers on Personal Financial Planning, Power Sector Reform, Electricity Regulation, Tariff Setting and Electricity Market Development both in Nigeria and abroad.
John
Ayodele
Director
John Ayodele
JOHN AYODELE is a highly experienced professional with 44.4 years of work experience in power systems, energy, and project management. He has a strong background in electrical engineering and renewable energy, with expertise in strategic planning and power generation.
Based in the United States, JOHN AYODELE has held various leadership positions, including Deputy Managing Director and Director at Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company.
He is skilled in power systems analysis, configuration, and configuration design. With a focus on smart grid and risk management, JOHN AYODELE is a valuable asset in the field of power generation and engineering
Dr. Kabiru
Adamu
Director
Dr. Kabiru Adamu
Dr. Kabir Adamu, a distinguished expert in enterprise security risk management and intelligence as well as national security solutions, serves as the Managing Director of Beacon Security and Intelligence Limited, a renowned Abuja-based firm that specializes in providing comprehensive security risk management and intelligence solutions in Nigeria and the Sahel region. With a sound academic background, a rich history of experience and an impressive track record, Dr. Kabir Adamu is recognized for his exceptional skills and leadership in the field of security and intelligence.
A dynamic and highly professional security and intelligence executive, Dr. Kabir Adamu has excelled in both the public and private sectors, including the humanitarian and development sector. His expertise extends to security consultancy and project management at the multinational level, supporting clients operating in volatile, uncertain, hostile, challenging, and complex environments.
At Beacon Security and Intelligence, Dr. Kabir leads a team of seasoned security professionals who share a commitment to professionalism and excel in delivering a wide range of security risk management and intelligence solutions. These solutions include National Security Sector Governance and Reform capabilities, Risk and Crisis Management, Security Investigation, Background Checks, Atmospherics, Security Intelligence, Security Escort Services, Journey Management, Real-time Incident Reporting, Intelligence Consulting, Hostile Environment Awareness Training (HEAT) and so much more.
Dr. Kabir holds a Doctorate in Strategic Security Risk Management, making him an authority in his field. He is widely regarded as the go-to expert for simplifying security challenges and offering practical, sustainable safety, security, and intelligence solutions. His approach is built on a foundation of professional integrity and a commitment to maintaining the highest standards. His dedication has earned him numerous accolades, licenses, permits, and accreditations from reputable organizations worldwide.
Currently, Dr. Kabir holds several esteemed positions and memberships, including:
- Fellow of the Risk Managers Society of Nigeria (RIMSON)
- Fellow of the Emergency, Crisis, and Disaster Risk Management Institute (ECRMI)
- Fellow of the International Institute of Professional Security, Nigeria (ISCA)
- Member of the American Society for Industrial Security (ASIS International), the leading global organization for security professionals
- Member of the Security Institute, United Kingdom
Notably, Dr Kabir Adamu led the Security and Intelligence team at the Office of the President of the Senate in the 9th Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He was part of the technical team that supported the Transition Committee in 2023 and is currently supporting the ministerial review process, mandated by Executive Order 13. His impressive career and profound impact in the field of security risk management and intelligence continue to shape and secure the future of Nigeria and the broader Sahel region.
Dr. Umar Abubakar Hashidu
Chief Executive Officer
Dr. Umar Abubakar Hashidu
Dr. Umar is a trained System Engineer from the School of Engineering of the University of Warwick, United Kingdom. He acquired his Master of Science (Msc.) degree from the same institution in the field of International Technology Management. After teaching for a while at the University of Warwick, Dr. Umar acquired his Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in Management with expertise in strategy, policy, organizational design and development at the same institution.
In 2014, Dr. Umar was first recruited as a consultant to serve as the Decision Support Executive to the Managing Director (MD) of Kano Electricity Distribution Company, a position he held for 6 months before the Company offered him a full-time role as Head of Strategy and Corporate Performance to strengthen the management team in developing organizational strategic focus and performance evaluation. As Head of Strategy, he developed the company’s strategic plan in line with BPE’s approved acquisition plan with a designated implementation plan in conformity with grid, distribution, metering and codes.
Dr. Umar served as a consultant for the World Bank Energy and Extractive team working in support of the performance-based loan towards the actualization of the Power Sector Recovery Programme (PSRP) in Nigeria. In this role, he interfaced with BPE and other stakeholders and contributed to the development of standards in improving the governance of DisCos in the areas of external accountability and transparency, relationships between boards and management, and procurement procedures for investment within the scope of DisCos Performance Improvement Plans.
Dr. Umar holds several professional development certifications including Finance for Non-finance Directors from the Institute of Directors (UK) and a certificate in Building and Leading Organization from FTTC Nigeria. He is a registered Engineer with COREN and a Member of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, Member, Institute of Engineering and Technology UK, Member Institute of Civil Engineers UK, Member Institute of Mechanical Engineers UK, Fellow Institute of Management Consultants Nigeria.
