Powering the future: ECN boss, Mustapha Abdullahi empowers over 80 young Nigerians through maiden Energy Leadership Fellowship
Omeiza Bilal
The Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN), Dr. Mustapha Abdullahi, has successfully empowered more than 80 young Nigerians through the inaugural edition of the Mustapha Abdullahi Energy Leadership Fellowship (MAELF) 2026.
The week-long residential initiative was designed to equip participants with critical leadership skills, mentorship, professional networks, and startup support geared toward Nigeria’s energy sector and broader national development.
Intensive capacity building in Abuja
Initiated and fully sponsored by Dr. Abdullahi through the DAM Foundation in partnership with the APC National Youth Wing, the fellowship brought together carefully selected young minds from across the country.
After arriving in Abuja on Sunday, participants engaged in a rigorous six-day program featuring lectures, policy dialogues, mentorship sessions, panel discussions, innovation workshops, team projects, and networking events before graduating on Friday.
The program sought to bridge the gap between youth leadership potential and national growth by exposing fellows to practical knowledge and emerging opportunities within Nigeria’s energy ecosystem.
Throughout the week, participants interacted with senior government officials, policymakers, development experts, academics, and private sector leaders.
Grants and recognition
The fellowship climaxed on Friday with the presentation of certificates and an empowerment package valued at over ₦17 million. This included startup grants ranging from ₦500,000 to ₦5 million awarded to outstanding fellows to support innovative ideas, enterprise development, and community-based initiatives.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, Dr. Abdullahi explained that the vision behind the initiative is to cultivate a new generation of ethical, competent, and visionary leaders capable of advancing Nigeria’s energy transition.
“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 stated.
Commending the fellows for their discipline, resilience, and collaboration across regional, ethnic, and religious divides, Dr. Abdullahi urged them to let integrity and service guide their journeys.
“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.”
Redefining the energy sector
Dr. Abdullahi emphasized that the energy sector extends far beyond physical infrastructure and electricity generation, serving as a vital engine for socio-economic transformation.
“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 noted.
He charged the participants to act as advocates of sustainable development and champions of clean energy, ensuring that the fellowship remains an active responsibility rather than a certificate that gathers dust on a shelf. The successful conclusion of MAELF 2026 marks a significant milestone in the DAM Foundation’s commitment to human capital investment and youth empowerment, paving the way for future editions dedicated to shaping Nigeria’s energy future.
