Uba Sani, Kaduna governor, has congratulated Al’amin Idris, chief executive officer (CEO) of Interface Africa, for emerging as the overall winner of the 2025 NextGen innovation challenge held in London, the United Kingdom.
The event, organised by the National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI) and UKALD Management Consultancy, “featured over 3,000 participants from Nigeria”.
In a statement on Wednesday, Ahmed Maiyaki, Kaduna’s commissioner for information, said only 105 participants — out the 3,000 — made it to the grand finale, with Idris, an indigene of the state, clinching the top position.
According to the statement, Interface Africa is a clean energy platform that connects solar providers, financiers, and users.
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The company’s flagship projects, GreenPay and NasPoints, a network of trained field agents, have reportedly powered thousands of homes and supported small businesses across Africa, contributing to carbon emissions reduction across the continent.
Maiyaki said Idris’ innovation secured a £1.5 million investment from UK-based Pure Climate Solutions to expand its operations across Africa.
Commenting on the feat, Sani described Idris’ victory as “a proud moment for Kaduna State and Nigeria”.
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He stated that the achievement shows the creative strength and global potential of Kaduna’s youth.
The governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to investing in science, technology, and innovation to drive inclusive growth and empower young people.
“We are building an innovation-driven economy that rewards ideas, nurtures talent, and delivers opportunities,” the governor stated.
Sani highlighted some of his administration’s key reforms, including the establishment of the Kaduna innovation and technology council, smart schools and digital learning programmes, and three vocational and skills development institutes in Rigachikun, Soba, and Samaru Kataf.
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The governor also disclosed plans to introduce STEM scholarships for outstanding students in the state.
Sani commended another Kaduna innovator, Shamsuddeen Jibril, whose creation, the AgroDrone Crop Doctor, impressed global judges at the competition.
The drone technology, designed for crop spraying and monitoring, was said to have earned Jibril partnership deals with Teesside University (UK) and UKALD Management Consultancy.
Usman Zaria, director-general of the Kaduna state schools quality assurance authority, who led the state’s delegation to the event, credited the achievement to the governor’s visionary leadership and investment in education, innovation, and youth development.
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