…Innovation, Science, and Technology Minister applauded for transformative impact at home and abroad.
The Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Chief Uche Geoffrey Nnaji, has been conferred with the prestigious 2025 Nigeria Silent Heroes Award, in recognition of his outstanding leadership and groundbreaking achievements since assuming office.
The award was presented at a high-profile event attended by dignitaries from across the country.
This was disclosed in a statement on Sunday by the Director of Media and Corporate Communications at the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), Dr Felix Ale.
Ale noted that the award is a “profound appreciation and recognition of the minister’s qualitative leadership and historic milestones.”
Chief Nnaji, who was unavoidably absent, was represented at the ceremony by NASRDA’s Director-General, Dr Matthew Olumide Adepoju. The highlight of the occasion was the formal decoration and award presentation by the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Gwabin Musa, represented by Rear Admiral Olusanya Bankole, Chief of Civil-Military Relations.
“He is a distinguished Nigerian who has done the nation proud through his outstanding and inspiring record of achievements under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” Bankole stated.
The Project Coordinator of the Silent Heroes Awards Initiative, Mrs Ozioma Sonia Odita-Sunday, said the Silent Heroes Awards is built on a simple yet profound ethos of identifying, honouring and celebrating those whose contributions to humanity are both significant and selfless.
According to her, the stories of recipients like that of Chief Uche Geoffrey Nnaji exemplify values that not only enrich our communities but also strengthen the moral fabric of our great nation.
The event also featured the unveiling of “Nigeria’s Silent Heroes” (Volume 3), a publication that documents the profiles and contributions of outstanding Nigerians. Nnaji’s chapter chronicled his transformation of the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology into a results-driven, future-facing institution.
Other notable recipients of the award included the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun; renowned businessman, Tony Elumelu; and the Executive Governor of Edo State, Monday Okpebholo.
Since his appointment, Nnaji has repositioned the ministry of Innovation Science and Technology from obscurity to one of the most dynamic engines of Nigeria’s national development. Under his leadership, the ministry has not only stabilised but has also grown significantly in relevance and output.
At the 79th United Nations General Assembly in New York, Nnaji represented Nigeria in key global dialogues on space exploration, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and climate-smart agriculture.
A defining moment was his audience with Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland KC, where he became the first Nigerian minister to visit her since her appointment. The engagement earned Nigeria renewed backing for its innovation agenda.
Back home, Chief Nnaji’s achievements have been equally impressive. He secured federal approval for the launch of four advanced satellites: NigeriaSat-3, NigeriaSat-4, NigeriaSat-5, and NigeriaSAR-1, which will enhance national capacity in agriculture, disaster response, security, and environmental monitoring.
In addition, the minister played a pivotal role in attracting €7.9 billion in foreign direct investment for Project Green, Africa’s largest green methanol and hydrogen initiative. In healthcare, he oversaw the launch of Africa’s first insulin manufacturing plant and Nigeria’s first AI-powered smart hospital.
His administration in the Federal Ministry of Innovation Science and Technology has also prioritised youth empowerment. Through Project NOVA, over 25,000 young Nigerians are being trained annually in high-demand global tech skills. Complementing this is the Youth Space Skill Programme and the Barefoot Renewable Energy College, both of which are equipping youths with scientific, engineering, and entrepreneurial skills.
On energy, the Sustainable Energy Access Programme (SEAP) has brought renewable energy solutions to all 774 local government areas. The Renewed Hope Solarisation Project is also electrifying 37 federal institutions through hybrid power systems.
One of his most impactful yet understated accomplishments has been fostering synergy among key space agencies: NASRDA, NigComSat, and the Defence Space Administration (DSA), to ensure a unified and strategic national space programme.
On the policy front, the minister introduced a 30% local value-addition requirement for raw material exports and collaborated with the African Development Bank on a 10-year raw materials roadmap. His creation of the Science and Innovation Fund ensures consistent financing for research, infrastructure, and technology commercialisation.
Chief Nnaji has also overseen the commissioning of several key projects, including a 10 MW solar PV module plant in Enugu, a modular refinery in Bauchi, and the launch of a patented hexagonal charcoal stove aimed at promoting clean cooking solutions.
Internationally, his leadership has garnered respect and honour for our great nation.
Chief Nnaji recently signed a memorandum of understanding with UNESCO on bioethics, reinforcing Nigeria’s commitment to ethical scientific progress. He also led Nigeria’s delegation to Commonwealth-level partnerships focused on AI, climate resilience, and sustainable agriculture.
In a bold step to empower institutions, Nnaji facilitated the release of a N20 billion take-off fund to support NASRDA in boosting the nation’s capacity for space regulation and innovation.
“Chief Uche Geoffrey Nnaji’s leadership is a convergence of foresight, competence, and patriotism,” Adepoju said in his reaction to the conferment of the Nigeria Silent Heroes Award on the Honourable Minister.
The Honourable Minister, according to him, has turned what was once seen as a dormant ministry into a powerhouse of innovation and national growth.
Dr Adepoju maintained that in less than two years, Nnaji has initiated and delivered more transformative programmes, partnerships, and policies than many of his predecessors combined.
There is no gainsaying the fact that Chief Uche Geoffrey Nnaji’s style of quiet, impactful leadership – focused on results over rhetoric – is exactly what the Nigeria Silent Heroes Award was designed to celebrate.
