FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
London, UK — African Leadership Magazine (UK), organisers of the Persons of the Year (POTY) 2026 Awards, have announced Dr. Abubakar Shuaibu Jimeta, Managing Director of Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO), as a recipient of the Distinguished African Business Leadership Impact Award.
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The award recognises Dr. Jimeta’s leadership in driving operational reform, institutional governance, and service delivery improvements within Nigeria’s electricity distribution sector—widely regarded as the most commercially and operationally challenging segment of the power value chain.
KEDCO’s franchise spans Kano, Katsina, and Jigawa States, serving an estimated 15 million people and supporting one of the largest concentrations of commercial and industrial activity in northern Nigeria. Since assuming office, Dr. Jimeta has led a results-oriented management agenda focused on revenue assurance, network reliability, regulatory compliance, and customer confidence, positioning the utility for greater operational stability within the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry.
Under his leadership, internal performance data indicate sustained improvements in monthly revenue collections, supported by enhanced billing integrity and stronger commercial controls. Collection efficiency improved year-on-year, strengthening cash-flow predictability and enabling reinvestment in network infrastructure. Metering penetration expanded through structured deployment programmes, contributing to a reduction in estimated billing disputes and faster resolution of customer complaints.
On the technical front, targeted investments in feeder rehabilitation, transformer upgrades, and fault-response coordination have delivered measurable reductions in outage frequency on critical feeders, particularly within metropolitan Kano. While incremental, these gains represent material progress in a sector where reliability directly affects productivity, healthcare delivery, and small-business sustainability.
Beyond operational outcomes, Dr. Jimeta’s leadership has been defined by a strong emphasis on institutional governance and stakeholder engagement. KEDCO strengthened its internal compliance framework in line with Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission benchmarks, while maintaining structured engagement with host state governments, consumer groups, labour unions, and sector regulators. This approach has reinforced organisational predictability and trust—qualities increasingly essential in Africa’s utility and infrastructure environments.
The Distinguished African Business Leadership Impact Award honours leaders whose effectiveness is demonstrated through governance discipline, performance improvement, and measurable impact in essential service institutions. Dr. Jimeta’s recognition reflects the growing consensus that leadership quality in infrastructure management is central to economic resilience and national development.
Previous POTY honourees include H.E. Julius Maada Bio, H.E. Philip Davis, Mr. Sim Tshabalala, Dr. Olusegun Alebiosu, Mr. Daniel Asiedu, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, and Mo Ibrahim, underscoring African Leadership Magazine’s focus on impact-driven leadership.
As Africa’s development narrative shifts from aspiration to accountability, Dr. Abubakar Shuaibu Jimeta stands among leaders whose influence is measured by performance standards, institutional reform, and service delivery outcomes at scale.
