KADUNA ELECTRIC FRONTLINE JULY EDITION

Every Customer Must Come on Board, be known and Properly Documented _Area Manager, kebbi South.

Mr. Abdulwahab Suleiman is the Area Manager of Kebbi South, newly created Area Office of Kaduna Electric. He is a man passionate about result through strategic planning and abiding commitment to duty. He shared his thoughts, vision and plans in an interview with Mohammed Najib Atuwo on how he intends to ensure progress in the Company's revenue through knowledge sharing and the experience acquired over the years from various organization...excerpts

CCD: Sir would you shades more light on the responsibilities of the Area Manager?

Mr. Abdulwahab: Thank you for this opportunity. As an Area Manager, the responsibilities are not farfetched; it comprises managing both internal as well as external customers; by managing internal customers, it entails bringing out the best in employees to attain maximum efficiency for growth of the company. And that of external customers is basically providing quality service delivery to the customers, and this effectively translates into profit for the Company.

CCD:  Kebbi South is newly created Area Office, as the pioneer Area Manager what are your strategic plans for the Area Office?

Mr. Abdulwahab: Being the pioneer Area Manager for Kebbi South Region, I intend to ensure that all customers on the network are on board, are known and properly documented; this is one of the major challenges the Distribution Companies are facing and also a major source of revenue leakage.

Also, as a field officer, it is one difficulty that Area Managers contend with, but in our case, it shall be turned to an added advantage by ensuring that both sides of the coin “Customers and Revenue” are well protected for the Company.

And I also intend to introduce a new tracking technique in which all Sales Representatives are being tracked and nonperforming ones are flagged on daily basis.

Another strategy is on the job training, by training and retraining of the field officers, especially the Sales Personnel on the job.  I strongly believe that this will go a long way in reducing commercial losses.

CCD: Teamwork is one of the core values of the Company, what do you intend to do to improve the workforce of the new Area Office?

Mr. Abdulwahab: Well, I don't believe in the notion of idleness and as such the belief that two or more heads are better than one is certain with team work.

It gives sense of togetherness and responsibility and that is success, we will work in teams and reward teams that perform better within our means, it also engenders healthy competition among the various teams. Every team will want to outshine the other given its distinct and fair parameters.

CCDS: What do you see as challenging?

Mr. Abdulwahab: Challenges are everywhere, but our abilities to turn those challenges into opportunities is what makes us unique.

Our major challenge in Kebbi South on inception is the lack of operational vehicles & low level of sensitization on the product and services. Some of the customers and stakeholders alike are yet to come to terms with the responsibilities place on them by the paradigm shift from a public owned to private sector driven industry. We also don’t have enough marketing staff to cover the network effectively and efficiently.

CCD: Energy theft and vandalism of power equipment are the common problems faced by the Company, what do you think the Management should do to curtail that?

Mr. Abdulwahab: Proper and up to date, educating and sensitizing the general public via media houses, time to time community engagements with the stakeholders in that regard, and that will change the narration of Energy theft and vandalism. It will go a long way in reducing the menace of vandalism and energy theft. Proper monitoring of installation by both host community and staff will also enhance the security of installations.

CCD: Where do you see Kebbi South Area Office in few months to come in terms of revenue generation?

Mr. Abdulwahab: In few months’ time, I see Kebbi South as the best Area Office with performance efficiency at the highest point.

CCD: Any word of advice to the Management and Staff?

Mr. Abdulwahab: The entire Management and Staff of Kaduna Electric are to remain focused to the core values of the Company and shun acts that are detrimental to the success of the Company.