Joseph Makoju

Engineer Joseph Oyeyani Makoju (born 13 July 1948) served as Special Adviser (Electric Power) to the President Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria under two separate administrations. He is now Honorary Adviser on Electric Power to the current President/Commander-in-Chief, Federal Republic of Nigeria (effect from 20 May 2008). He is also the Special Adviser to the President/Chief Executive, Dangote Group, from 2009 to date,^[1] the chairman, Cement Manufacturers Association of Nigeria,^[2] as well as West African Power Pool Executive Board.^[3]

Prior to that, he was the managing director/chief executive officer of the erstwhile National Electric Power Authority (NEPA)/Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN); Nigeria's national electricity utility.^[4] He was selected and invited for this job by government on the basis of his track record in the private sector. And, for almost a decade, the managing director/chief executive officer of the West African Portland Cement Company,^[5] at that time Nigeria's largest cement manufacturing company. After his tenure as the managing director/Chief Executive of NEPA, Makoju was appointed consecutively as Special Adviser to three presidents of Nigeria.

Early life and education

Makoju was born on 13 July 1948 in Okene, Kogi State Nigeria. Makoju was a Harford award winner of Government College, Kaduna and also a J. F. Kennedy Essays Award winner of Federal Government College Warri Nigeria. He graduated from University of Nottingham, UK in 1972 with First Class Honour earning BSc in Mechanical Engineering; and M.Phil. Mechanical Engineering in 1974 from the same University. Attended National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies NIPSS, Kuru, Jos (mni) 1989 to 1990. He also holds an honorary Doctor of Science in Engineering degree from the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi.

Career at PHCN

J. O. Makoju became the managing director of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) in 2000. He was faced with the challenge of providing uninterrupted power supply to the teeming masses and to position the firm for privatisation in the long term. At the beginning of his tenure, he was deputy head of a technical board that raised the power generating capacity of PHCN in the short term through the rehabilitation of power plants, installation of new units, reinforcement of the transmission system, construction of new transmission lines and sub-stations and expansion of the distribution network.

However, issues bordering on low gas supply to power plants, drop in water levels at Hydro stations, vandalism, theft contributed to reducing the maximum efficiency and power generation, failing to deliver on the government's electoral statements of uninterrupted power supply. By 2006, the country was facing an epileptic power supply and a potential national blackout.^[6]

Career at WAPCO

Makoju returned to Nigeria from the United Kingdom in 1976 and joined Ewekoro Works as the process manager. The Ewkoro works Lafarge Cement WAPCO Nigeria Plc plant then was the oldest out of the firm's two lines. He later served as production manager of Shagamu Works deputy works general manager and general works manager. After the completion of a training at the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies, he was posted to the corporate head office in Lagos as the deputy managing director. Makoju became the managing director of the firm in 1991, succeeding Mr Ogunleye.

Makoju's tenure as MD saw WAPCO at many times operating close to full capacity in a sector that was dominated by scarcity of cement, the cement industry in Nigeria historically has had to deal with image problems associated with high price, scarcity, government deals and distortions in the marketing process while WAPCO specially had to answer questions about its cement allocation system.

The firm in the 1995 financial calendar was able to declare a high profitable value of 5.1 billion naira after entering the capital market twice in 1990 and 1992 to raise funds for increased capital investment mostly for the purchase of a cement grinding mill and replacement of quarry equipment.

Professional bodies

Makoju is a Chartered Engineer and a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (FNSE), Nigerian Institute of Management (FNIM) and the Nigerian Academy of Engineers. He is a member of the British Institute of Mechanical Engineers and of the Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (mni). He was the chairman of Cement Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (CMAN) 1992 – 2000. He was the Vice-President of Nigerian's Employers Consultative Association (NECA) (1998–2000). Between May 1994 and May 1999, he was the President of the Chemical and Non-Metallic Employers Federation (CANMPEF), the largest employers Federation in the manufacturing sector.^[7]

He is a member of British Institute of Mechanical Engineers (MIMechE) Nigerian Institute of Management and Nigerian Institute of Policy & Strategic Studies. Makoju is a National Council member of the Manufacturer Association of Nigeria. He is also a member of the National Economic Revival Council, a think-tank for advising government on economic policy and member of the African Regional Board of the London School of Economics.^[8]

National awards

In parallel to his effort and contribution to the advancement of the country, Makoju was in October 2000 honoured with the officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) award, and in 2011 with officer of the Federal Republic – both Nigerian national award.^[8] He was also honoured with the National Grand Commander of the Special Order of Merit from the Republic of Niger. He also holds an honorary Doctorate of Science degree from the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi.^[7]

See also

• Zoom Information

References