Mbah hails Bart Nnaji at 70, praises him for returning to impact home nation

Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah lauded former Minister of Power Bart Nnaji on his 70th birthday, emphasizing the significance of Nnaji's return to Nigeria to contribute to the nation's development.

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Professor Nnaji’s life reminds us that the journey is only complete when knowledge returns to serve the community that first nurtured it.

Speaking at a colloquium in Enugu themed “Powering Tomorrow: 70 Years of Engineering the Common Good,” Mbah described Nnaji's decision to return home as the most defining chapter of his life. He noted that Nnaji's journey exemplifies how knowledge gained abroad should serve the community that fostered it.

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Prof. came home. And he returned not because he had to, but because he believed that what he had learned belonged here as well.

Mbah recognized Nnaji's pioneering role in indigenous power development through his founding of Geometric Power. He also commended Nnaji's commitment to public service in science and technology, highlighting his investments in both infrastructure and people. The governor stated that Nnaji's life serves as a reminder that engineering's true value lies in its positive impact on people's lives, such as ensuring reliable electricity for communities and hospitals.

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His life also reminds us that engineering is ultimately an act of service. Its value is measured by the difference it makes to people’s lives: a community with reliable electricity, a hospital that never loses power during surgery, a young entrepreneur with the confidence to build a business because the foundations are dependable.

The governor shared his administration's vision for Enugu State, aiming to create an environment where young people can fulfill their potential without needing to emigrate. He stressed the importance of investing in education, robotics, AI, and digital capabilities, alongside strengthening power infrastructure and fostering enterprise, to build a society with genuine opportunities.

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Throughout his career, Professor Nnaji has shown us that knowledge reaches its highest purpose when it is placed in the service of others.