Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN), Dr. Mustapha Abdullahi, has empowered more than 80 young Nigerians with startup grants and leadership training under the maiden edition of the Mustapha Abdullahi Energy Leadership Fellowship (MAELF) 2026, aimed at building the next generation of leaders for Nigeria’s energy sector.
The week-long fellowship, organised through the DAM Foundation in partnership with the APC National Youth Wing, concluded in Abuja on Friday with the presentation of certificates and an empowerment package worth over N17 million, including startup grants ranging from N500,000 to N5 million for outstanding participants.
The residential programme brought together carefully selected young Nigerians from across the country for intensive training in leadership, energy policy, entrepreneurship, innovation, governance and sustainable development.
Participants underwent six days of lectures, policy dialogues, mentorship sessions, panel discussions, innovation workshops, team projects and networking engagements designed to prepare them for leadership roles in Nigeria’s evolving energy landscape.
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The fellowship also exposed participants to practical opportunities within the country’s energy ecosystem while equipping them with professional networks, mentorship and entrepreneurial skills needed to drive innovation and sustainable development.
Among the prominent personalities who engaged the fellows were the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr. Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh (SAN); Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande Wisdom; former Senate President and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim; Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency, Engr. Abba Abubakar Aliyu; and APC National Youth Leader, Hon. Dayo Israel.
Speaking during the graduation ceremony, Abdullahi said the fellowship was conceived to raise ethical, competent and visionary leaders capable of advancing Nigeria’s energy transition and contributing to national development.
“As I look around this hall today, I see not just graduates of a fellowship programme; I see ambassadors of hope, innovators in waiting, solution providers and future architects of Nigeria’s energy future,” he said.
He commended the participants for their discipline, resilience and commitment to learning, noting that they had demonstrated the capacity of Nigerian youths to excel when provided with the right opportunities. According to him, leadership must be anchored on integrity, excellence and service.
“Certificates may open doors, but character sustains leadership. Knowledge may create opportunities, but integrity preserves them. Influence may attract followers, but service is what builds lasting legacies,” Abdullahi said.
The ECN boss stressed that the energy sector goes beyond electricity generation and infrastructure, describing it as a major driver of economic growth and improved quality of life.
“The energy sector is not merely about electricity, solar panels, gas, hydrogen, batteries or infrastructure. It is fundamentally about people.
It is about improving lives, reducing poverty, creating opportunities, empowering industries, strengthening healthcare, enhancing education and securing a better future for generations yet unborn,” he stated.
He said achieving Nigeria’s energy transition would require courageous leadership, innovation and ethical professionals committed to national development.
Abdullahi urged the fellows to become ambassadors of clean energy and sustainable development, while encouraging them to sustain the networks established during the fellowship and continue developing practical solutions to the country’s challenges.
The successful completion of the inaugural MAELF, organisers said, represents a major milestone in the DAM Foundation’s investment in youth empowerment and human capital development, with plans already being considered for future editions to strengthen leadership capacity within Nigeria’s energy sector.
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