The Elites: Hydrogen leaders for a greener tomorrow

Preview a selection of leadership nominees in the hydrogen sector for the 10th African Power & Energy Elites: Projects and People magazine (fondly known as The Elites).

Aisha Suleiman, Mag Green, Nigeria 

Aisha Suleiman is the co-founder of MAG Green, a climate awareness organisation where she doubles as the communications and partnership lead. She also serves as the West Africa Regional Coordinator’s focal point to support the Women in Green Hydrogen global network. Her undergraduate-level chemistry studies at the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto, Nigeria, were her first contact with hydrogen. 

Suleiman then studied Renewable Energy and Green Hydrogen Technology for her Master’s Degree through the BMBF (German Federal Ministry of Education and Research) Scholarship in the International Masters programme in Energy and Green Hydrogen Technology.

Ayodeji Stephen, Hydrogem Energy Advisory, Nigeria & Ireland 

Ayodeji Stephen is the Africa Energy Lead at the UN Climate Change High-Level Champions and the Founder of HydroGEM Energy Advisory. He is at the forefront of accelerating Africa’s hydrogen economy through policy research, technical advisory, and multi-stakeholder engagement. In his role as the Convener of the African Hydrogen Fellowship (AHF), he leads a pan-African platform that mentors and trains young energy professionals, building a pipeline of skilled hydrogen leaders. 

Stephen is currently pursuing a PhD in Hydrogen Applications for Transport Decarbonisation at Dublin City University, under the NexSys initiative funded by Science Foundation Ireland. His research combines systems modeling, hydrogen storage, and policy design to drive heavy-duty transport decarbonisation in Africa and Europe. 

James Mnyupe, Presidential Advisor, Namibia 

James Mnyupe is the Economic Adviser to the Namibian President and holds the portfolio of Namibia’s Green Hydrogen Commissioner. 

He contributes to the nation’s strategic planning process that aims to augment Namibia’s macroeconomic structure with the goal of diversifying its exports and buttressing the economy’s ability to weather exogenous shocks. 

He has worked on unlocking concessionary blended financing capital to enable the construction of strategic assets for the upcoming wave of low carbon manufacturing. Mnyupe holds an Executive Certificate in Economic Development from the Harvard Kennedy School, is a CFA Charter holder, a Chartered Accountant and a Certified Financial Planner. 

Joy Nzue, Giz, Kenya 

Joy Nzue works as a Technical Advisor at Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) Kenya supporting the country’s national government to develop a green hydrogen economy and implementation activities on Power System Readiness for Grid Integration, and Power-to-Liquid and sustainable aviation fuels (SAF). 

She graduated in Electrical and Electronics Engineering and has worked for various renewable energy solutions initiatives for Africa. She is passionate about delivering a Just Energy Transition and youth participation in climate action and participated in the formation of the National Steering Committee for SAF in Kenya.

Nzue also coordinate Women in Green Hydrogen activities in Kenya and is convinced that the adoption of green hydrogen is essential for attaining a net-zero economy along with Power-to-X technology to foster the energy transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy.

Cover photo:  James Nyupe, Presidential Advisor, Namibia