The Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Mr Khalil Suleiman Halilu, has been officially conferred as a Distinguished Fellow of the Nigerian Institution of Mechanical Engineers (NIMechE).

The conferment ceremony, held today at The Podium Event Centre, Ikeja, Lagos, brought together leading figures from Nigeria’s engineering, industrial, and innovation ecosystems to celebrate individuals whose leadership and service have made remarkable contributions to the advancement of mechanical engineering in the country.

The event is part of the ongoing 38th International Conference, Exhibition and Annual General Meeting of the NimechE with the theme: Promoting Sustainable Blue Economy Through Technological Advancement – The Mechanical Engineering Perspectives.

Mr Halilu, who was represented at the event by Engr. Rasheed Agavah, Acting Coordinating Director, Engineering Infrastructure Directorate, NASENI, commended the Institution for finding him worthy of the recognition. The NimechE Board of Fellows will present the award to the EVC at a later date at NASENI Headquarters.

The EVC/CEO, who was among 68 recipients conferred with Fellows, described the honour as “a call to do more in advancing Nigeria’s science and engineering landscape through NASENI’s mandate while accelerating growth in the nation’s industrial sector.”

The conferment follows his election by the NIMechE Council during its 88th Council Meeting held on 15th July 2025, in recognition of his transformational leadership at NASENI and his outstanding contributions to the promotion of homegrown engineering and technological solutions in Nigeria.

Under Mr Halilu’s leadership, NASENI has become a national driver of industrialisation, technology transfer, renewable energy adoption, agricultural mechanisation, and electric mobility, aligning with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

The Distinguished Fellowship represents the highest recognition within NIMechE, reserved for individuals who have demonstrated exceptional excellence, integrity, and impact in the mechanical engineering profession and beyond.

Also conferred with Fellow of the NimechE was the Director of the Technology Business Development Department at NASENI and Special Adviser, General Matters to the EVC/CEO, Engr. Bernard Ozigi.

The 10th edition of the Nigeria Innovation Summit (NIS) has successfully concluded, drawing delegates and stakeholders from across the world to discuss groundbreaking ideas and sustainable solutions tailored to Nigeria and Africa’s development.

Held on October 7–8, 2025, the hybrid event adopted the theme “Sustainable Innovation” and featured a series of high-level discussions, panels, and exhibitions centered on the role of innovation in addressing socioeconomic and environmental challenges.

The annual summit, organized by InnovationHub Africa, serves as a strategic platform bringing together key players from Nigeria’s economic sectors, the tech and innovation ecosystem, academia, and policy circles to explore forward-thinking solutions for national and continental growth.

This year’s sessions featured diverse topics such as Driving Data-Driven Healthcare for a Sustainable Future, Unlocking Wealth through Intellectual Property; Innovations in Communications and Brand Positioning, Innovative Financing and Regulations in a Digital Era, and EdTech for Inclusion: Bridging Educational Gaps in Africa.

A major highlight of the event was the Nigeria Innovations Experience (NiX) Talks, powered by the African Innovation Academy, which focused on “Digital Solutions for Sustainable Transformation and Building Sustainable Solutions for Impact.” The summit also featured fireside chats, panel sessions, Quick Pitch (Pitch-a-Thon), innovation showcases, and expert insights on emerging technologies.

The Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, was the Special Guest of Honour, represented by Mr. Olatunbosun Alake*, Commissioner for Innovation, Science and Technology.

Distinguished speakers and panellists included Dr. Chinyere Almona (DG/CEO, LCCI), Dr. Jameelah Sharrieff–Ayedun (Chairman, CBAN), Prof. Michelle Lane Messina, Nafisat Abdulmalik (eHealth Africa), Zusi Inegbeniki (FounderxAI), Richard Pepple (Technoville Nigeria), Sheila Moor (Fresh Fare Limited), Victor Boyle (GIVO), Teresa Aligbe (Phenom Communications), Obinna Iwuno (SiBAN), and Chiemela Anosike (Solaris GreenTech Hub), among others.

The grand finale of the summit was marked by the 2025 Nigeria Innovation Awards, which celebrated trailblazers driving innovation and sustainability across sectors.
Award recipients included:

* TotalEnergies – Championing Sustainable Energy Solutions in Nigeria
* eHealth Africa – Advancing Healthcare Access Through Technology
* Rise Networks – Driving Social Change & Youth Inclusion Through Technology
* DigiLearns – Transforming Education Access for Sustainable Impact
* Lumos Laboratories – Waste-to-Energy Technology Leader of the Year
* Louer Global Limited (Louer Group) – Best E-Government Service Company

In the individual category, Kevinblak (Governor Amuneke) was honoured as Most Innovative Content Creator of the Year, while Ugochukwu Okoli received recognition as Outstanding Cyber Intelligence Professional of the Year.

The 2025 edition also featured an Innovation Tour to the MTN Cloud & Data Centre, where delegates explored cutting-edge innovations shaping Nigeria’s digital transformation.

The Summit received significant support from MTN, the International Society for Professional Innovation Management (ISPIM), the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), WEVO, Vendelux, Ideamarketplace, CBAN, and SiBAN as partners. It was sponsored by Bank of New Innovation Limited (BONI), eHealth Africa, and the African Innovation Academy.

Official media partners included The Cable, Tech Insider, Brand Times, Techeconomy.ng, ITPulse, RaveNewsOnline, Coinratecap, Nigeria Communications Week, TechTrends Africa, Naijapreneur.com, Tech Cartel, Tech Clout, and Swift Reporters, among others.

The 10th Nigeria Innovation Summit reaffirmed Nigeria’s growing reputation as a hub for creativity, technology, and sustainable development across Africa.

Gombe State Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya has approved the appointment of Dr Lawan Bala as Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health.

Until his elevation, Dr Lawan Bala served as the Executive Secretary of the Gombe State Hospital Management Services Board, where he made remarkable contributions toward repositioning secondary healthcare delivery across the state.

The Head of Civil Service, Alhaji Ahmed Kasimu Abdullahi, who conveyed the Governor’s approval, explained that the decision forms part of the administration’s ongoing efforts to consolidate the gains recorded in the health sector, particularly following the successful hosting of the Maiden Gombe State Health Summit.

He noted that the recent approval and implementation of CONMESS and CONHESS salary structures for health workers, coupled with Governor Inuwa Yahaya’s comprehensive reforms in the sector, have made it necessary to strengthen leadership in the Ministry of Health through the appointment of a career medical professional as Permanent Secretary.

Similarly, Governor Inuwa Yahaya has also approved the appointment of Dr Mohammed Bello Abdulkadir, Director of Medical Services at the Ministry of Health, as the new Executive Secretary of the Hospital Management Services Board.

Dr Abdulkadir brings years of experience in clinical practice, health administration and policy implementation to his new role, positioning him to build on the achievements of his predecessor and enhance service delivery across hospitals in the state.

The Governor expressed confidence that both appointees will justify the trust reposed in them and contribute meaningfully to sustaining his administration’s health sector transformation.

The appointments take immediate effect.

What began as a simple birthday visit on Sunday, October 12, 2025, turned into a devastating tragedy for the family of Oghenekaro Ugochukwu Bonny, a 36-year-old father of two and expectant father of a third, who was allegedly stabbed to death by a soldier in Warri, Delta State.

Ugochukwu, a graduate of Computer Engineering, had spent the day with his elder sister, Joy, celebrating his niece’s birthday. “He was full of life,” Joy recounted. “He played with the kids, helped with the cake setup, and even bought fuel when our generator ran out. He was his usual cheerful self.”

After the celebration, Ugochukwu left with two close friends, Peace and Elohor, intending to return home. On their way, they decided to stop by a friend’s house inside a nearby estate. However, as they approached the estate gate, an encounter with security personnel turned fatal.

According to eyewitnesses, after being cleared by estate security, Ugochukwu drove in, but a soldier stationed nearby stopped him and demanded to know why he had entered. Despite calmly explaining that he had been cleared by security, the soldier reportedly slapped him.

When Ugochukwu stepped out of his navy-blue Honda car to ask why he was assaulted, another soldier allegedly rushed toward him with a dagger and stabbed him in the hand and stomach. His friends watched in horror as he collapsed, bleeding profusely.

One of the friends, Peace, said he managed to pull off the attacker’s name tag, which read *“Sefiu”*, before rushing Ugochukwu to a nearby Navy hospital. Unfortunately, doctors later confirmed him dead.

The friend they had gone to visit reportedly arrived moments later and questioned the soldiers on why they had attacked his guest, but by then, it was too late.

Ugochukwu leaves behind a pregnant wife and two young children. “He was everything to us,” his grieving wife said. “How do I tell our children their father is gone? He won’t even be here to see our new baby.”

The incident has sparked outrage in the Warri community, with family and friends demanding justice. “We can’t just move on like this didn’t happen,” Peace said. “He was a good man who didn’t deserve to die this way.”

The killing has reignited calls for greater accountability among Nigeria’s security personnel, with residents urging the military authorities to investigate and prosecute those responsible.

For now, a family mourns a beloved husband and father, a man whose only “crime” was obeying estate security instructions. His death adds to the growing list of Nigerians whose lives have been cut short by the excessive force of those sworn to protect them.