Name: Nagib Abdalla
Organization: Afrigypt [African Gas for African People Project]
Role: Founder
Achievements/Awards:
– 1000 African Leaders Project Winner for the African Gas for African People Project
– World Youth Forum 2019
– Studied at the National Defense College in the Nasser Higher Military Academy in Strategic Cairo and National Security
– Ambassador for world peace at the World Peace Organization
– Participated in the Egyptian Ministry of Planning in the Sustainable Development Ambassador Program
I am an Egyptian Petroleum Engineer who graduated from the Faculty of Petroleum and Mining Engineering, Suez University. I love Africa and believe in my historical responsibility towards the continent, believing in the one destiny that requires everyone to work together hand in hand to achieve goals that make the present and secure the fate of future generations.
Since the beginning of my journey, I have had the privilege of participating in many events that contribute significantly to the awareness-making of Egyptian and African youth. Even more so, I have participated in many programs that aim to provide alternative and sustainable solutions aimed at serving the United Nations Development Goals 2030 and the African Union Agenda 2063.
I have worked as an engineer in the oil and gas fields in the Arab Republic of Egypt, but my passion and vision, aimed at exploiting natural gas on the African continent to serve the population of the continent, has moved me into the field of natural gas distribution. My value proposition is based on the simple idea and realization that Africa holds large reserves of natural gas, with more than 634 trillion cubic feet of reserves currently not being exploited.
Meanwhile, the continent still faces severe shortage of clean, natural gas supply services and facilities which are vital in accordance with Goal 17 of the Sustainable Development Goals. In amongst all the natural abundance, the continent still endures deforestation and pollution from the use of wood, kerosene and butane cylinders in its large capitals, while its cleaner alternatives lie dormant, underutilized.
This project is not only consistent with sustainable development, but also contributes directly to solving fundamental challenging facing the continent which I believe have curtailed its people’s legitimate rights to a decent life, which is an authentic right deserved by its inhabitants who possess the determination and will that qualifies them to be at the forefront of the countries of the world with their ancient human resources and their rare natural resources.
Through the enlightening experience of youth engagement, scientific background and the Egyptian experience in this field, 2016 saw the birth of this idea as I studied its feasibility. In 2017, I began my evangelical journey, preparing papers and started introducing the idea in many platforms. 2018, I got my first big break as I got to introduce the actual project at the 1000 African Leader Project with me and my team winning the competition. Since then, I have managed to share the project with many countries and governments on the continent.
However, personally my most cherished moment was when I brought the project to the World Youth Forum in 2019. Now this project is set to serve the capitals of 25 African countries with Egyptian-African arms by implementing projects and supplying domestic, industrial and commercial natural gas service and also solving infrastructure problems related to water and sanitation.
It has not always been smooth sailing though, as I have faced many challenges on this path to bring this project to life, main one among them being, red tapes. Getting in contact with governments and key officials of targeted countries is generally a huge task and collecting data is usually prohibited or the necessary information is unavailable.
However, it is a journey I have truly savored with a number of milestones I can note. It began, when I studied Petroleum Sciences and over the years, I joined the Thousand African Leaders Project to study African Sciences at the Faculty of Higher African Studies, Cairo University. My project, in partnership with colleagues from many countries of the African continent, ranked first among the submitted projects.
I have also had the honor of participating in many great events, such as attending the World Youth Forum 2019, in addition to many other workshops that serve the issues of the African continent.
I also studied at the National Defense College in the Nasser Higher Military Academy in Strategic Cairo and National Security and I am an ambassador for world peace at the World Peace Organization.
Other programs I have participated in include the Egyptian Ministry of Planning in the Sustainable Development Ambassador Program, which is organized by the Institute for Governance and Sustainable Development, the training arm of the Ministry of Planning.
Long live Egypt, long live Africa
Glory all glory to the peoples of the brown continent
