Dr. Mustapha Abdullahi: Flowing With The Tide, Doing Things Differently 

It is an open and shut fact that Dr. Abdullahi never left anyone in doubt as to his vision for the country’s leading agency in energy wherewithal. With a vision encapsulated succinctly in the words of author and one of world’s most leading figures in public speaking, Myles Munroe that, “Leadership is not about titles, positions, or flowcharts. It is about one influencing another.” I dare say here too that beyond leadership being about influencing others, “leadership is about jesttisoning self, deeding measurable milestones that can provide path(s) for others to follow in order to make positive impact in human endeavours.” Dr. Abdullahi as the Energy Commission’s Chief Executive Officer has consistently shown he is first among his equals – a man with clear vision to make impact that transcends beer parlour gossips.

He has shown that he is not an opportunist, rather a man with very rare opportunity to fly as long as his wings can take him in providing visionary leadership. He knows the premium Mr. President places on the country’s youths. Mr. President’s strong belief in this demography to provide quality and qualitative leadership having ventured into politics himself at a youthful age of 40. He would therefore go all out to prove his mettle in his deliverables. And this can be seen in his – Dr. Abdullahi’s activities – both at home in Nigeria, in Africa as well as the global stage. He is overtly flowing with the tide – of accentuating the energy vision of the Renewed Hope agenda, but definitely doing things differently to show that Mr. President’s promise of a new working and egalitarian Nigeria is NOT A fluke.

Only recently, he attended two different international events – 1st Energy Planning Summit in Brazil and the other, World Refrigeration Day event in Paris, France that saw Nigeria on the global energy space advocating for the country’s energy transition through innovation, sustainability and inclusive development that would ultimately guarantee safer environment, quality living standard through affordable alternative energy source and improve multi-lateral relationships across the globe. He believes strong institutions and workable synergies are sine qua non to scaling renewable energy projects. He therefore is leaving no stone unturned in driving such framework that will ensure policy alignment with the energy transition goals of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.

His leadership without equivocation has brought a gamut of fresh ideas into the energy sector, improving human capital development in several dynamics. One of such was the recent solarization project unveiled by his leadership that would bring sustainable energy to educational institutions – a nationwide provision of solar power to institutions of higher learning across the 36 states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory. The initiative would expectedly foster greener energy solution, address country’s energy debt crisis, reduce energy cost and guarantee energy efficiency. An initiative with multi-benefit approach to the citizenry across the power value chain – ultimately revolutionising a Nigeria future where clean and affordable energy solution is accessible not only by the privileged few, but including the hoi polloi and the societal flotsam and jetsam.

Dr. Abdullahi continues to show that his leadership is deliberate, un-cosmetic and driven by people-centric credo. He understands the current administration under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu cannot afford to fail Nigerians. It is now or never going by the experience of over 4 decades. Dr. Abdullahi therefore is desirous of being part of history. The Renewed Hope administration is reworking the country in various sectors. Mr. President is re-writing Nigeria’s story. Dr. Abdullahi cannot afford to be left behind. He is flowing with the tide, but doing it differently to even project the administration in a more positive way.