The Ikeja Electric Plc (IE) has emerged as the Best Electricity Distribution Company of the year and Most Gender Diverse Utility Company in 2022 at the maiden Nigeria Power Sector Awards.
The Board Chairman of the company and Executive Director of Sahara Group, Kola Adesina also bagged the Power Sector Lifetime Achievement Awards.
The Chief Executive Officer, Ikeja Electric, Folake Soetan, who received the prestigious awards attributed the achievements to the collective efforts of the management and staff of Ikeja Electric.
She said: “It is our collaborative efforts and teamwork that earned us these worthy awards. As the largest electricity distribution company in Nigeria, we will continue to set the pace in the industry.
“It has been nine years since the takeover and we have witnessed significant transformation and achievements despite the challenges confronting the sector as a whole. We strongly believe in continuous improvement, that is why we have come this far.”
Soetan noted that the company consistently champions gender diversity in the workplace. She said: “As a company, we promote gender diversity and we live it. We do not discriminate that certain roles or tasks are best handled by a particular gender. Therefore, in our workforce, you would have noticed the diligent men and women in various capacities in various departments”.
She stated: “Sustainability Development Goal 5 (SDGs) speaks to gender equality, aimed at empowering all women and girls. And gender equality is not only a fundamental human right but also a necessary foundation for a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world. Diversity at the workplace enables creative ideas, innovation, teamwork, and a positive reputation for the organisation”
She, therefore, assured all stakeholders that the company would not relent in its efforts in delivering excellent service to grow businesses in Nigeria and better the lives of the citizens.
The Chairman, Organising Committee of Nigeria Power Sector Awards, Odion Omonfoman, said: “The Nigerian Power Sector is one fraught with myriads of challenges. In spite of these, there has been measurable progress, innovation, and growth in the sector, which deserves recognition.
“In this vein, the Nigeria Power Sector Awards is an initiative to publicly recognise and honour public and private sector organisations and individuals, who have contributed to the growth, innovation, and progress in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI). A strategic objective of the initiative is to showcase the progress made across the power sector in order to inspire more growth and change the narrative of the Nigerian Power Sector,” Omonfoman
