Ben Ezechime, Enugu
The management of the Projects Development Institute (PRODA), Enugu, has rewarded its best research team for 2025 with a cash prize of ₦500,000 for developing a Smart Shared Metering System.
Presenting the award at the institute’s 2025 end-of-year event held at PRODA headquarters in Emene, Enugu, the Director-General, Dr Peter Ogbobe, described the innovation as the first of its kind in Nigeria.
“The meter-sharing system is a major innovation because the team started from scratch,” Ogbobe said. “It is a unique system that will solve many problems.”
He explained that once approved and fully operational, the system would eliminate the equal sharing of electricity units among tenants living in the same compound.
“In this system, each user is allocated electricity units based on the amount he or she contributed. Once your contribution is exhausted, your power supply goes off, while other tenants who still have units continue to enjoy electricity,” he said.
According to the Director-General, each flat or room occupant is provided with a special security feature that prevents tampering with the units contributed by other tenants.
Dr Ogbobe commended the research team for their efforts and urged them to sustain the momentum.
Responding on behalf of the team, the research leader, Mr Ikenna Egbuchulem, thanked the management for selecting his team as the best research team for 2025. He pledged that the team would continue refining the meter-sharing system until it becomes fully operational for the benefit of Nigerians.
The PRODA management also rewarded outstanding staff members across various departments. Mr Ngwuoke Emmanuel emerged as the Best Overall Staff of the Year 2025 and went home with a Hisense deep freezer.
An elated Ngwuoke expressed gratitude for the recognition.
“I am very happy and thankful to the selection committee for finding me worthy. I also appreciate the Director-General and the management for this award,” he said.
Two retired directors were also honoured for their dedication and meritorious service to the institute.
Speaking to journalists after the event, Dr Ogbobe said the end-of-year celebration, which has become an annual tradition since he assumed office in 2022, was designed to motivate staff.
“The event is meant to foster unity and conviviality among staff, and it has achieved its objective, as we now work as a team in PRODA,” he said.
“A team is more united than a family; working as a team yields better results.”
