Mustapha Abdullahi Energy Leadership Fellowship 2026 Begins in Abuja

The Mustapha Abdullahi Energy Leadership Fellowship (MAELF) 2026 officially commenced on Monday in Abuja, marking the beginning of a seven-day residential leadership and capacity-building programme aimed at grooming a new generation of energy leaders for Nigeria.

Organised by the Dr. Mustapha Abdullahi (DAM) Foundation in partnership with the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Youth Wing, the fellowship brings together outstanding young professionals from across the country for a week of expert-led training, policy engagement, mentorship, and strategic networking.

The seven-day residential fellowship is designed to develop young professionals in Nigeria’s energy sector, with a strong focus on renewable energy, energy transition policies, climate action, leadership, and governance. The initiative also provides participants with access to a ₦17.5 million grant, jointly supported by Dr. Mustapha Abdullahi and Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, alongside other opportunities aimed at fostering innovation, enterprise, and leadership within the energy ecosystem.

The opening day featured engaging lectures and interactive sessions facilitated by leading voices in Nigeria’s energy and leadership space, including the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Abba Abubakar Aliyu, a respected energy development expert, and the APC National Youth Leader, Dayo Israel, who played a key facilitation role during the programme. Their sessions challenged participants to embrace innovative thinking, purposeful leadership, and collaborative solutions to the country’s evolving energy needs.

Participants were exposed to insightful discussions on leadership, innovation, sustainable energy development, and the critical role of young professionals in shaping Nigeria’s energy future. The sessions also provided an opportunity for fellows to interact, exchange ideas, and build collaborative relationships that will strengthen their collective impact beyond the fellowship.

Speaking on the significance of the initiative, one of the fellows and Co-founder of Fosun Solar Energy Nigeria Limited, Nafisat Ovurevu, described energy as Nigeria’s biggest challenge, particularly as it relates to food production, noting that programmes such as the fellowship could help deliver sustainable solutions.

“In Nigeria, the biggest challenge we have is not in the availability of resources. We have abundant energy resources, but those resources do not automatically translate to reliability,” she said.

Following the morning training sessions, the participants paid an exclusive visit to the Honourable Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr. Tochukwu Kingsley Udeh, SAN, where they held an interactive engagement centred on innovation, technology, and their significance in accelerating Nigeria’s development and energy transformation.

The official commencement follows the arrival of participants in Abuja on Sunday, where they were received by officials of the DAM Foundation ahead of the opening ceremony. The arrival provided an opportunity for the cohorts to network, familiarise themselves with one another, and begin forging the relationships that will underpin the fellowship throughout the week.

The Mustapha Abdullahi Energy Leadership Fellowship 2026 is designed to equip emerging leaders with the knowledge, leadership capacity, and strategic networks required to contribute meaningfully to policy development, innovation, and sustainable growth within Nigeria’s energy sector.

As the week-long programme unfolds, participants will continue to engage with policymakers, industry leaders, academics, and development practitioners in a series of high-level sessions designed to prepare them as catalysts for innovation and transformative leadership in Nigeria’s energy landscape.