Professor Eli Jidere Bala has been appointed acting Director General of Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN) following the retirement of Prof. Abubakar Sani Sambo.

His appointment takes immediate effect pending the appointment of a substantive director General, a statement from the spokeswoman of the commission, Mrs Amaka Onwaulu said.

Prof. E.J. Bala who is married with children is hails from Gelengu, Balanga Local Government Area of Gombe State where he was born on 19 September, 1954.

He earned a Bachelor of Engineering degree from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in Mechanical Engineering in 1977 and subsequently a Masters in engineering degree in 1980.

He obtained a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) degree in Applied Energy from Cranfield Institute of Technology, United Kingdom in 1984.

Until his appointment as acting Director General of ECN, Prof Bala was the Director, Renewable Energy Department at the commission.