In an awards ceremony held at the Tahir Guest Palace in Kano, 30 outstanding youths, including Shamsudeen Jibril, a Kaduna-based innovator, were honored at the 30 Under 30 Arewa Stars Award and Conference. Shamsudeen Jibril was recognized as the Innovator of the Year for his achievements in developing handcrafted drones, improvised explosive device (IED) detectors, robotics, and providing innovative solutions in security, agriculture, and logistics.
The event, organized by Arewa Agenda in collaboration with Daily Nigerian and Image Merchants Promotion Limited (IMPR), publishers of PRNigeria, aimed to highlight the significant contributions of young professionals and individuals in various fields across Northern Nigeria. Mallam Sule Yau Sule, Chairman of the occasion, emphasized the importance of recognizing young unsung heroes and inspiring the youth to excel, preparing them to take on leadership roles.
Yushau A. Shuaib, Chief Host and Managing Director of IMPR, explained that the gathering aimed to honor talented and productive professionals making positive impacts in Nigeria and abroad. Shuaib expressed concern over the lack of support from Northern elites for the media industry and urged leaders to invest in the productive sector to foster excellence and professionalism.
The ceremony featured presentations by Ismail Bello on accessing global opportunities, and Dr. Musa Sufi of Sufi Innovation and Development Solutions (SIDES) spoke on innovation and development. A panel moderated by Khadija Bawas discussed leveraging technology for innovation and sustainable development.
Several individuals received awards in different categories, including Pharm Aminu Hashidu Danjuma for Public Health, Khadijah Aliyu Ammani for Humanitarian efforts, and Rabiu Aliyu for Fintech innovations. Other categories included Agriculture, Acting, Media, ICT, Education, Politics, Event Management, Hotelier, Social Activism, Social Media Influencer, Real Estate, Fashion & Design, Engineering, Entrepreneurship, Entertainment, Photography, Sportsperson, Political Communicator, Heroes Award for Security, and Social Impact Movie.
The diverse range of award categories reflected the impactful contributions of these young individuals across various sectors, showcasing their dedication and achievements in their respective fields. The event served as a platform to celebrate and recognize the outstanding efforts of young talents from the Arewa region.