The Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu, has been honoured with the Blueprint CEO of the Year 2025 Award for his leadership in technology, innovation and industrial development.
Halilu received the recognition at the eighth edition of the Blueprint Newspaper Public Lecture, Impact Series and Awards, held on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, at Shettima Hall of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre, Abuja.
According to the Chairman of the Editorial Board of Blueprint Newspapers Limited, Zainab Suleiman-Okino, the award was presented to Halilu in recognition of his “innovative leadership in technology, engineering and industrial development.”
Halilu, who was unable to attend the event, was represented by NASENI’s Coordinating Director, Planning and Business Development, Dr. Nonyem Onyechi, who received the award on his behalf.
Speaking at the event, Onyechi expressed appreciation to the management of Blueprint Newspapers for the recognition, describing it as an honour for Halilu and the entire NASENI team.
“I want to thank Blueprint Newspaper for the 2025 CEO of the Year Award on behalf of the Chief Executive of NASENI, Mr. Khalil Halilu, and the entire NASENI team. We are truly humbled and grateful. We appreciate this recognition, and we remain committed to excellence,” she said.
Blueprint said the award followed its assessment of Halilu’s leadership and contributions to technology, innovation and industrial development, particularly his efforts to strengthen the commercialisation of research and engineering outcomes and promote indigenous technological capacity.
Under Halilu’s leadership, NASENI has focused its institutional strategy on Creation, Collaboration and Commercialisation (3Cs), with emphasis on translating research and engineering innovations into commercially viable products, strengthening partnerships with industry and other institutions, expanding technology transfer and supporting indigenous manufacturing.
The newspaper said its awards were based on an assessment that considered tangible achievements, institutional impact, innovation and service delivery.
The recognition adds to the growing public acknowledgement of NASENI’s efforts to reposition research and development as a driver of industrialisation, job creation and reduced dependence on imported technologies.
The award ceremony, chaired by former Zamfara State Governor and former Senator Abdulaziz Yari, also recognised other individuals and institutions for contributions to governance, public service, business, finance and national development.
Other award recipients included the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, who received the 2025 Person of the Year Award; Enugu State Governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, who was honoured as Politician of the Year for Fiscal Responsibility and Digital Transformation; Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, who received the Efficient Public Resource Management and Transparency Award; and the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Olayemi Cardoso, who was recognised for Financial Sustainability and Regulatory Oversight.
The eighth Blueprint Public Lecture also featured discussions on the theme, “Security Challenges and the Integrity of Nigeria’s 2027 Elections.” The gathering brought together political leaders, public officials, traditional rulers, security stakeholders and other participants to examine issues surrounding national security, democratic governance and the integrity of the electoral process.
