Gov. Uba Sani of Kaduna State has congratulated Al’amin Idris, Chief Executive Officer of Interface Africa, for emerging as the overall winner of the 2025 NextGen Innovation Challenge held in London.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the global innovation competition was organised by the National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI) in collaboration with UKALD Management Consultancy.
It attracted over 3,000 participants from across Nigeria, with only 105 innovators advancing to the grand finale.
Al’amin, a proud indigene of Kaduna State, was announced winner for his clean-energy innovation, Interface Africa.
It is a pioneering platform that connects solar energy providers, financiers, and end-users to scale affordable access to clean power across the continent.
The innovation, through its flagship solutions GreenPay and NasPoints (a trained agent network), had powered thousands of homes, supported small businesses, and helped reduce carbon emissions.
It had also secured a £1.5 million investment from UK-based Pure Climate Solutions to expand its reach across Africa.
Sani described Al’amin’s victory as “a monumental achievement and a source of immense pride for Kaduna State and Nigeria.
“This victory reaffirms the creative strength and global potential of Kaduna’s youth.
“We are building an innovation-driven economy that rewards ideas, nurtures talent, and delivers opportunities for our people,” the governor stated.
A statement by the Information Commissioner, Alhaji Ahmed Maiyaki, quoted Sani as extolling the various feats achieved by youths from across the state.
Sani added, “From classrooms to global stages, Kaduna’s young people are shaping Africa’s innovation future.”
The Governor also highlighted ongoing policy reforms under his administration aimed at boosting innovation and digital skills among the youth.
These include the establishment of the Kaduna Innovation and Technology Council, Smart Schools and Digital Learning Programmes, STEM scholarships for exceptional students,.
They also include the launch of three Vocational and Skills Development Institutes in Rigachikun, Soba, and Samaru Kataf.
The governor also commended Shamsuddeen Jibril, another innovator from Kaduna, whose locally-developed AgroDrone Crop Doctor — designed for agricultural spraying and crop monitoring earned international recognition and partnership agreements with Teesside University (UK) and UKALD Management Consultancy.
Leading the state’s delegation to London, Prof. Usman Abubakar-Zaria, Director-General of the Kaduna State Schools Quality Assurance Authority (KSSQAA), lauded the achievements as a reflection of Sani’s visionary leadership and investment in education, technology, and youth development.
He said Kaduna’s strong representation at the global event was made possible through the timely approval and sponsorship by the state government.
“These outcomes clearly demonstrate the impact of Gov. Uba Sani’s commitment to empowering the next generation through innovation and targeted investment in human capital,” Abubukar-Zaria said.(NAN)