The National Association of University Students, the National Association of Polytechnic Students and youth-led organisation Salvage Africa are set to honour the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Oil and Gas Free Zones Authority Usman Bamanga Jada, with a Distinguished Award of Excellence at the third edition of the National Students’ and Young Professionals Summit and Book Launch.
The organisers say the award recognises Jada’s developmental contributions to Nigeria’s oil and gas industry since his appointment as OGFZA boss in October 2023 and his role in driving reforms aligned with the Federal Government’s agenda for the sector.
According to the conveners, the upcoming summit will bring together Nigerian students and young professionals to interact with national leaders, learn from reform-minded figures and explore practical pathways to development across key economic sectors.
They noted that honouring Jada is intended to spotlight public officials whose work is seen as advancing Nigeria’s energy landscape and supporting broader national economic growth.
Since assuming office at OGFZA, Jada has been credited in official communications with leading reforms aimed at repositioning Nigeria within the global energy market by promoting innovation, sustainability and inclusive growth in oil and gas free zones.
Under his leadership at OGFZA, he has intensified efforts to attract industrial investment, improve transparency and strengthen regulatory efficiency in the free zones regime, drawing commendations from government stakeholders for helping to create a more competitive environment for investors.
Jada is widely regarded as a technocrat with broad experience in civil service administration, financial management and public sector governance built over years of service in federal institutions.
Before his current role, he worked with the Energy Commission of Nigeria and the Kano Electricity Distribution Company, experience seen as giving him both administrative and technical insight into Nigeria’s power and energy value chains.
The OGFZA chief executive holds a Master of Science in Oil and Gas Operations Management from the University of Central Lancashire in the United Kingdom, as well as a Master of Business Administration in Marketing, complementing earlier degrees in business and economics.
Organisers of the summit say this academic and professional background underpins his contributions to policy implementation in the free zones, particularly in areas of energy economics, investment promotion and strategic leadership.
Student bodies involved in the event say they want the summit and award to serve as a bridge between campuses and key decision-making spaces in Abuja and across the country.
They expressed hope that showcasing the work of figures such as Jada will inspire young Nigerians to pursue careers in public service, energy and related fields, while also demanding transparency, innovation and accountability from leaders at all levels.
