The executive vice chairman and CEO of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Khalil Suleiman Halilu, has been named Young African Leader of the Year by African Leadership Magazine, the agency announced.
The agency said the award, presented at the Persons of the Year Ceremony in Accra, Ghana, followed a multi-stage process that included editorial shortlisting for impact, leadership, policy influence, and reforms, as well as continent-wide public voting, in which Halilu topped his category.
According to NASENI, this was followed by a continental-wide public e-voting exercise in which Africans across countries voted for candidates in various categories. Khalil Suleiman Halilu emerged the winner of the Young African Leader of the Year category, securing the highest number of votes in his class, reflecting broad continental recognition of his reforms and impact.
The continental honour recognises Halilu’s industrial and institutional transformation of NASENI since his appointment in 2023 by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to drive Nigeria’s local manufacturing and homegrown innovation agenda.
The event was attended by distinguished African leaders, including H.E. Jakaya Kikwete, H.E. Samuel Matekane, H.E. John Kufuor, H.E. Esperança da Costa, and Hon. Sheku Ahmed Fantamadi Bangura
Speaking on the theme “Leadership for a New Africa: Forging Our Peace, Owning Our Narrative,” Halilu emphasised that Africa’s transformation must be driven by production, innovation, and industrial capability. “At NASENI, our mandate is clear; move Nigeria from consumption to creation,” he said.
He explained that since assuming office in 2023, NASENI has been repositioned, From Research to Products. From Unknown to National Relevance. From Agency to Innovation Platform.
Under his leadership, NASENI is advancing clean energy localisation, mechanised agriculture, coal-to-fertiliser technology for food security, youth innovation programmes such as Innovate Naija, DELT-Her, Shefly, FutureMakers, women in engineering initiatives, and decentralised manufacturing, guided by its 3Cs operating principles of Creation, Collaboration, and Commercialisation.
Referencing his remarks at the West African Economic Summit (WAES) in June last year, Halilu reiterated that Africa’s transformation will not come from policy ambition alone but from industrial capacity. “If we do not produce what we consume, we cannot control our future,” he stated.
Concluding his remarks in Accra, Halilu called on African leaders to prioritise execution and productivity. “The New Africa must be defined by output, not potential. The future is being built by us” he said.
The continental recognition comes shortly after two major honours in Nigeria. NASENI received the Environmental Impact of the Year award from Leadership Newspaper, while Halilu was also recognised by New Telegraph for Outstanding Service in Innovation and Reforms.
SOURCE: LEADERSHIP NEWS PAPER
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