Dr. Imamuddeen Talba

Council for Renewable Energy Nigeria(CREN)

(Chairman, Steering Committee)

PROFILE

Talba is an astute and highly experienced Regulatory Administrator, Experienced Transactions and Dispute Resolution lawyer with extensive expertise in Insurance, Renewable energy and Power, Oil and Gas and Environmental law. A lawyer with 37 years’ professional experience; and a policy and regulatory expert with 25 years working experience as a regulator in the Electricity and Insurance Sectors.

He started his professional career as a state counsel with Ministry of Justice, Borno State in 1983; was appointed a magistrate; and rose to the office of Chief Magistrate (Bama:1989-1991) and Director Judicial Service Commission (March – August 1991) Borno State Judiciary. He also served as the Chief Magistrate/Registrar in Yobe State Judiciary from 1991-1993; and was appointed as Secretary Legal Advisor to the National Insurance CoImamuddeen mmission in January 1994.

He had over 13 years’ experience in Insurance Regulations (1994-2007) where he served as the Pioneer Secretary and Legal Advisor to the National Insurance Supervisory Board (As it then was, then NAICOM in 1997). During his career at NAICOM he headed the Legal Division and was also Secretary and Adviser to the Board.

He Chaired the Review of the Insurance Laws, drafted and developed Insurance Rules and Regulations, supervised the liquidation and receivership of failed insurance companies, monitored compliance and performance of the insurance licensees, served in the committees of the recapitalization of the insurance industry and the Consumers Complains Bureau.

He had another 12 years working experience as a Regulator in the Electricity Sector; with an excellent understanding of regulatory policy and reforms of the electricity industry, economic regulations, regulatory compliance and performance monitoring, Licensing, Legal support and market dispute resolution.

He was appointed as Pioneer Secretary to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) in 2007 to establish the secretariat and assist in developing regulatory rules and processes for the electricity sector. He also served as Head (Renewable Energy Research and Development Division) Head (Consumer Affairs Division) and Head (Legal, Licensing & Compliance).

In 2009 He was appointed as Administrator/Chief Executive to the Commission and served in that capacity for 22 months. As Administrator/Chief Executive he was a member of the Presidential Action Committee on Power chaired by the President and was also a member of the Presidential Task Force on Power.

He Co-Chaired Inter-Ministerial Committees on Renewable Energy/Energy Efficiency and Rural Electrification Strategy and Plan respectively. And from 2012-2015 he served as Special Advisor (Policy and Regulation) to the Ministers of Power.

He was a member of the Committee of Chairmen of European Energy Regional Regulators Association (ERRA); member Executive Committee of the African Forum for Utility Regulators (AFUR) and was a member Committee of Chairmen of ECOWAS Regional Electricity Regulators Associations (ERERA).

He was awarded Ph.D. (LL.D) in Applied Regulatory Framework by the Commonwealth University in the Belize. He is a Fellow of African Business School, a Fellow of International Management Consultant, and Fellow Institute of Leadership and Management.

He is an Aluminous of Harvard Kennedy School for Executive Education (Applying Behavioral Insights to the Design of Public Policy for Senior Executive) and also an Alumni Member of International Law Institute (Executive Leadership). He is a professional member of International Bar Association, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators UK, International Dispute Resolution, and International Chartered Institute of Mediators and Conciliators.

Imamuddeen Talba graduated from the University of Maiduguri in 1981 and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1982; and he is married with children.