Governor Uba Sani, CON, has congratulated Al’amin Muhammed Idris, Chief Executive Officer of Interface Africa and a proud indigene of Kaduna State, for emerging as the Overall Winner of the 2025 NextGen Innovation Challenge, held in London.
The global innovation event, organised by the National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI) in partnership with UKALD Management Consultancy, brought together more than 3,000 participants from across Nigeria, with only 105 advancing to the grand finale.
Al’amin’s innovation, Interface Africa, is a groundbreaking clean-energy platform connecting solar providers, financiers, and end-users to expand access to affordable power. Through its flagship initiatives — GreenPay and a network of trained field agents known as NasPoints — the platform has powered thousands of homes, supported small businesses, and reduced carbon emissions across the continent.
The innovation attracted a £1.5 million investment from the UK-based firm Pure Climate Solutions to scale its reach across Africa.
Governor Uba Sani described Al’amin’s victory as a monumental achievement and a source of pride for Kaduna State and Nigeria, reaffirming that his administration will continue to invest in science, technology, and innovation as tools for inclusive growth and youth empowerment.
“This victory reaffirms the creative strength and global potential of Kaduna’s youth. We are building an innovation-driven economy that rewards ideas, nurtures talent, and delivers opportunities for our people,”
— Governor Uba Sani stated.
“From classrooms to global stages, Kaduna’s young people are shaping Africa’s innovation future,”
— Governor Uba Sani remarked.
Governor Sani further highlighted key reforms under his administration, including the Kaduna Innovation and Technology Council, Smart Schools and Digital Learning Programmes, Launch of three Vocational and Skills Development Institutes in Rigachikun, Soba and Samaru Kataf, and the establishment of STEM scholarships for outstanding students as deliberate policies actions that support creative and technological innovations.
He also commended Shamsuddeen Jibril, another Kaduna innovator, whose locally built AgroDrone Crop Doctor— designed for crop spraying and monitoring — impressed global judges and earned partnership agreements with Teesside University (UK) and UKALD Management Consultancy.
Leading the Kaduna delegation, Professor Usman Abubakar Zaria, Director-General of the Kaduna State Schools Quality Assurance Authority (KSSQAA), hailed the achievements as a reflection of Governor Uba Sani’s visionary leadership and sustained investment in education, innovation, and youth development.
He attributed the State’s strong presence at the global event to the timely approval and sponsorship of Governor Uba Sani, whose sustained investment in education, technology, and youth empowerment continues to yield transformative results.