News
Halilu Awarded Royal African Young Leadership Award
A week after receiving the Engineering and Innovation meritorious award at the Nigerian Excellence Awards in Public Service (NEAPS), the Executive Vice Chairman of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu, has been honoured with the prestigious ‘Royal African Young Leadership Award’ by the Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty Ooni Adeyeye Babatunde Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II.
L-R: His Imperial Majesty, Ooni of Ife Adeyeye Babatunde Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II presenting the prestigious Royal African Young Leadership Award to the EVC/CEO of NASENI, Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu at the Royal African Young Leadership Forum held in Ile-Ife, Osun State, yesterday.
The award was presented at the 4th edition of the Royal African Young Leadership Forum held on Saturday, July 13, 2024, in Ile-Ife, Osun State. The event organized by the palace of the progenitor of the Yoruba race, celebrates the achievements of outstanding young African leaders contributions to their communities and industries.
During the presentation, His Majesty, the Ooni of Ife, commended Khalil Halilu’s exemplary leadership at NASENI, emphasizing how his visionary leadership and innovative approaches are propelling Nigeria towards a technologically and industrially advanced nation.
The Ooni noted that Halilu’s outstanding performance is a source of immense pride for the youth of Nigeria and is crucial for the country’s economic prosperity. He also expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for recognizing illustrious young Nigerians, mentioning other notable appointees such as the Director-General of SMEDAN, Mr. Charles Odii, the Minister of Youth, Dr. Jamila Bio Ibrahim, and the Minister of Youth (State), Ayodele Olawande Wisdom.
“These young men are part of the government of our dear country. I want to use this opportunity to celebrate you and appreciate the President for putting you into government, thereby making your individual contributions to the development of Nigeria,” Ooni said.
Reacting to the award shortly after the presentation, the EVC/CEO of NASENI expressed gratitude for the recognition, stating, “I am honoured to receive this award from His Majesty, the Ooni of Ife. Previously, I admired the Royal African Young Leadership Forum Award on social media. Being acknowledged in this way underscores His Majesty’s commitment to recognizing and celebrating the positive impact individuals make in their respective endeavours.”
Halilu further emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts in driving technological innovation and industrial growth in Nigeria. He reiterated his commitment to continuing the work that NASENI is doing to advance the country’s technological infrastructure and enhance its global competitiveness.
The Royal African Young Leadership Forum is an annual event that brings together dynamic young leaders from various sectors to discuss and promote sustainable development in Africa. This year’s theme, “Africa of the Future: Better Together,” reflects the forum’s focus on unity and collective progress.
As Halilu continues to make impact in NASENI, his recognition at the Royal African Young Leadership Forum underscores his commitment to Nigeria’s technological and industrial growth. His work greatly inspires the youth of Nigeria and contributes to the nation’s economic development.
Alongside Halilu, other notable Africans, honoured include Dr. Jamila Bio Ibrahim, Ayodele Olawande Wisdom, and Charles O. Odii, among several young entrepreneurs selected from diverse background for their significant contributions to their fields.
EFCC
The African Development Bank Group last week approved an investment of €6.5 million in the Saviu II fund in order to support technology start-ups through their seed phase and first institutional fundraising, mainly in French-speaking Central and West Africa.
The Bank will invest €4.5 million as equity and €2 million as a first-loss hedging tranche on behalf of the European Commission, under the Boost Africa Programme.
This participation of the Bank Group will enable the Saviu II fund to give priority to companies with a strong technological or digital component.
Saviu II, the second investment vehicle of Saviu Partners, plans to invest between €500,000 and €3 million in about 20 technology or technology-oriented business-to-business start-ups in the seed phase or carrying out first institutional fundraising.
The Saviu II venture capital fund aims to make at least 60% of its commitments in the French-speaking countries of West and Central Africa: Côte d ‘Ivoire, Cameroon, Benin, Senegal, Togo, Burkina Faso and Mali.
The fund can also co-invest in promising technology companies in East Africa that have a strong team and business model, and whose strategy includes entering the market in French-speaking West African countries and establishing a strong presence there.
In addition, the fund will devote a dedicated envelope to pre-seed investments, focusing on minority equity investments, usually in co-investment with studios, incubators or other ecosystem partners.
Nigerian Government has signed a $1.3 billion Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) via the Solid Minerals Development Fund (SMDF) to fund an alumina refinery, national geoscience mapping, and a strategic investment vehicle for mining growth.
Special Assistant to the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Segun Tomori, said the refinery will process one million tonnes of bauxite yearly using a modern Bayer process, powered by an on-site gas-fired cogeneration plant.
Minister Dele Alake called it a transformative milestone boosting GDP, aligning with reforms that improve investment climate, regulations, and licensing to attract private capital. He directed agencies to fast-track permits.
The 20-year project at 95% utilization eyes 19 million tonnes total output, $1.2 billion annual GDP addition, $25 billion economic impact, and $8 billion forex earnings, per feasibility studies.
SMDF Executive Secretary Fatima Shinkafi termed it the agency’s biggest funding deal, supporting value-addition policy.
The partnership extends to geoscience mapping for mineral data, de-risking exploration, and a joint vehicle for mining assets.
Permanent Secretary Engr. Farouk Yabo praised the reforms. Shinkafi signed for government; AFC’s Franklin Edochie for the corporation, witnessed by AFC CEO Samaila Zubairu.
Tomori positioned it as Nigeria’s largest private mining investment and FDI magnet.
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