The federal government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthen innovation hubs across the country and also scaling support for idea-to-market transitions for innovators.
The government also pledged to create a policy and regulatory environment that encourages risk, rewards excellence, and promotes inclusion.
The Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji stated this on Wednesday at the National Exhibition of the NextGen Innovation Challenge 2025 in Abuja.
The NextGen Innovation Challenge, which celebrates vision, creativity, resilience, and the unrelenting spirit of Nigerian innovation, was organised by the National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI).
This year, over 3,000 innovation entries were received from 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) from which 74 finalists emerged.
He said, “To our private sector partners and global friends present here—I urge you to invest in these innovators. What you see today is just a glimpse of what Nigeria has to offer.
“These young men and women don’t just have ideas—they have solutions, blueprints, and scalable products that can redefine industries and transform lives.
To our finalists—your next steps matter. You are ambassadors of innovation and architects of the Nigeria we are building under this renewed national direction. The future is not something we wait for—it is something we must create with intention, precision, and boldness.
“As you present your innovations to the judges and stakeholders, I urge you to speak with clarity, demonstrate with confidence, and showcase not just your technology—but the transformational skills.”
The minister said that the event was not just an exhibition but an embodiment of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.
According to Nnaji, the president has made it clear that the country would no longer be a nation that imports solutions to problems it has the capacity to solve but would unleash the innovation of the people, unlock the potential of the youths and build an inclusive economy that rewards ideas, enterprise, and courage.
“Under this Renewed Hope framework, innovation is no longer on the periphery of governance—it is at the heart of national development. That is why we are investing in digital transformation, expanding access to science and technology education, and reforming our innovation ecosystem to reduce bureaucracy and open doors to capital, mentorship, and market access.
“Today, we are seeing the practical fruits of that vision. From clean energy to agri-tech, fintech, edtech, AI, and deep-tech solutions—our young innovators are proving that Nigeria is not just consuming technology; we are creating it,” the minister added.
On his part, Director-General, NBTI, Kazeem Raji said that this year’s innovation challenge received over 3,000 applications from Enugu; Kano; Ekiti; Maiduguri; Plateau; Lagos among others.
“Every entry, every idea, is a vote of confidence in the future we are building—a future authored by Nigerians, for Nigeria, and for a world in,” Raji said.
He added, “Our goal is not cosmetic innovation; it is deep, systemic transformation: How do we secure food for over 200 million people? How do we bring sustainable energy to the last rural household? How do we ensure that even the most remote child learns from the brightest minds—including those born here, in Nigeria? The answers are not in distant capitals. They are here—in this room, in these booths, and in these brilliant minds.
“You, the innovators, are the living proof that Nigeria’s greatest resource is not beneath the ground—it is within our people. The ‘Nigeria First Policy’ is a clarion call to prioritise local solutions for local and global challenges. It is an affirmation that Nigerian ideas matter, Nigerian products are valuable, and Nigerian innovators deserve to lead. You now operate in an ecosystem that is deliberately being shaped to favour you—with government support, development financing, and policy reforms aligned to empower indigenous thinkers, builders, innovators and creators.
“At the same time, Nigeria’s membership in BRICS opens unprecedented access to global markets—linking you directly to a multilateral bloc that collectively represents over 40% of the world’s population and trillions of dollars in trade and investment flows. This is your passport to new partnerships, new funding channels, new export opportunities, and cutting-edge collaboration with fellow innovators across emerging economies. But opportunity, no matter how abundant, is only as useful as your readiness to seize it.
“You must now think beyond prototypes—toward products. Think beyond ideas—toward impact. Think beyond visibility—toward viability and scalability. Build for Nigeria. Design for Africa. Compete for the world.Leverage the local content frameworks that prioritise your solutions in public procurement. Align with the Nigeria First Policy to build credibility and attract government and private-sector buy-in. Position your innovations to solve real Nigerian problems—energy access, food security, healthcare delivery, education, logistics, fintech, and industrial productivity. These are the frontlines where the Renewed Hope Agenda meets real transformation. Do not wait for permission to lead—the door is wide open. Let this be your era of audacity, of excellence and of scale.
“NBTI is proud to be a vanguard of this vision—building not just systems, but ecosystems; not just pipelines of talent, but platforms for prosperity. With our trusted project management consultants at UKALD, we are converting ambition into action, and transforming ideas into impact.”
Raji urged the private sector to invest in the innovation hubs across the country.
