In a powerful display of leadership and optimism, Khalil Suleiman Halilu, the dynamic Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), is steering Nigeria toward a sustainable future, promising over 1.5 million green jobs through innovative renewable energy initiatives.
At the Africa Policy Dialogue (APD) Kickoff Workshop on “Catalyzing Green Jobs Through Low Carbon Transition” held on July 24, 2025, at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja, Halilu’s vision resonated with attendees, igniting hope for young Nigerians, women, and rural communities eager for economic opportunities in a greener economy.
The workshop, co-organized by the House of Representatives Committee on Renewable Energy, the Inclusive Knowledge Platform, and Advocacy for Policy and Innovation (API), brought together policymakers, industry leaders, and advocates to craft a sustainable framework for Nigeria’s low-carbon transition.
Represented by Dr. Yahaya Tanko, Head of NASENI’s Impact Desk, Halilu outlined a transformative agenda that places people—especially youth and women—at the heart of Nigeria’s green revolution.
At just 32, Halilu, the youngest leader in NASENI’s history, is redefining the agency’s role as a catalyst for job creation and environmental sustainability. Through Dr. Tanko, he shared NASENI’s ambitious projects, including Africa’s largest renewable energy industrial park, solar-powered smart irrigation systems, compressed natural gas (CNG) conversion and training centers, solar panel manufacturing plants, electric vehicle (EV) assembly lines, and energy-saving cooking stove production facilities. These initiatives, he emphasized, are not just about technology but about transforming lives.
“Every solar panel we produce, every irrigation system we install, every electric vehicle we assemble is a job created, a family empowered, and a community uplifted,” Dr. Tanko relayed on Halilu’s behalf.
With a projected 1.5 million direct and indirect green jobs, NASENI’s efforts are poised to reshape Nigeria’s economic landscape, particularly for young people and women who represent 60% and 27-37% of the renewable energy workforce, respectively.
NASENI’s projects align with Nigeria’s Energy Transition Plan (ETP) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 2030, aiming for 30% renewable energy by 2030 and net-zero emissions by 2060.
The establishment of solar panel manufacturing and EV assembly plants is tackling Nigeria’s over-reliance on imported equipment, a critical barrier to the renewable energy sector’s growth. Halilu stressed the need for local manufacturing incentives, warning, “Unless the proposed Nigeria Green Jobs Bill provides incentives to local manufacturers of solar panels, the renewable energy sector of the country won’t develop.”
His call for policy support resonated with attendees, including Hon. Afam Ogene, Chairman of the House Committee on Renewable Energy, who championed the National Inclusive Green Jobs Act (NIGJA) to ensure job quotas for youth and women.
Halilu’s vision extends beyond job creation to long-term sustainability. Through Dr. Tanko, he urged the workshop to develop a robust framework to safeguard renewable energy investments, emphasizing collaboration between government, private sector, and academia. “NASENI is not just building technology; we’re building systems that turn ideas into jobs and dreams into reality,” Tanko said, echoing Halilu’s 3C Strategic Framework of Creation, Collaboration, and Commercialization.
The dialogue highlighted the challenges Nigeria faces, including a 50% skills gap in the renewable energy sector and weak policy support for local manufacturing. Yet, Halilu’s leadership offers hope. By fostering partnerships with international investors from China and Germany and expanding NASENI’s solar manufacturing capacity from 22 to 50 megawatts—with plans to reach 100 megawatts at the end of 2025—he is positioning Nigeria as a renewable energy hub.
Halilu’s bold leadership at NASENI is lighting the way. His commitment to inclusive green jobs is not just a policy—it’s a promise to millions of Nigerians dreaming of a brighter, greener future. With the National Inclusive Green Jobs Act on the horizon and NASENI’s innovative projects gaining momentum, Halilu is proving that Nigeria can lead Africa’s green revolution, one job, one life, one community at a time.
Leave a comment