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By Daniel Adaji
The UK Parliament has honoured Nigeria’s Khalil Halilu for leading the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) to the forefront of Africa’s industrial and technological transformation.
The agency disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday.
Halilu, Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of NASENI, received the prestigious African Achievers Award during the 15th edition of the ceremony held on July 11, 2025, at the House of Lords in London.
The award recognised his contributions to advancing Africa’s innovation ecosystem, industrial growth, and technological infrastructure through NASENI’s repositioning under his leadership.
The event was attended by royals, global leaders, policymakers, and innovators from across the continent and beyond.
Hosted by Baroness Sandip Verma, Chancellor of the University of Roehampton and a member of the House of Lords, the ceremony showcased African excellence and visionary leadership.
The NASENI boss joined a select group of honourees, including business leaders, public officials, and philanthropists making significant impacts on Africa’s development.
In his acceptance speech, Halilu reaffirmed Africa’s capacity to lead in innovation and sustainable development. “It is a great honour to receive this award alongside fellow visionaries committed to Africa’s future. At NASENI, we are bridging the gap between ambition and access, turning ideas into industries, empowering indigenous solutions, and driving forward Nigeria’s and Africa’s industrial transformation. Africa is not just rising, it is ready,” he said.
The statement noted that under his leadership, NASENI has become Nigeria’s leading technology transfer agency, playing a central role in President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. The agency is focused on local production in key sectors such as clean energy, agriculture, transportation, and digital infrastructure.
It stated that through strategic partnerships and its Accelerated Technology Transfer and Adaptation Strategy, NASENI is positioning Nigeria as a hub for sustainable innovation and industrial self-reliance.
Halilu expressed his gratitude to the organisers and supporters of the award: “I thank the African Achievers Awards team, Baroness Sandip Verma, and all those across the continent and diaspora who continue to champion African solutions. This recognition is a motivation to do more and a reminder that the future we seek is one we must build ourselves.”
Now in its 15th year, the African Achievers Awards is recognised as one of the continent’s most prestigious platforms celebrating leadership and excellence. This year’s edition featured goodwill messages from dignitaries including King Misuzulu kaZwelithini, Queen Olori Atuwatse III, and Dr. Fatou Bensouda, reinforcing the call for unity and self-driven progress in Africa.