Transform research into marketable products, FG urges varsities, others (Update 508)

Transform research into marketable products, FG urges varsities, others has drawn renewed public attention as more details emerged from officials and eyewitness accounts on Thursday.

The Federal Government, through the National Board for Technology Incubation, has called on universities and other institutions in the country to begin the commercialisation of research.

The Director-General of the NBTI, Dr. Raji Kolawole, made this known in Abuja on Thursday during a press briefing to herald the kickoff of the 2026 edition of the NextGen Innovation Challenge.

The NextGen Innovation Challenge is a national development catalyst aimed at positioning Nigeria as Africa’s innovation powerhouse.

It focuses on high-impact sectors such as artificial intelligence, advanced semiconductors, green energy, and climate resilience, providing Nigerian innovators with access to funding, mentorship, and global markets.

Speaking during the briefing, Raji described the challenge as a defining national platform designed to accelerate innovation, mobilise investment, and position Nigeria as Africa’s undisputed innovation hub.

“President Tinubu’s bold economic reforms and his unwavering belief that innovation is the new oil have redefined the architecture of national development,” he said.

Raji noted that the NBTI remains the Federal Government’s foremost technology incubation agency and the only government institution statutorily mandated to commercialise research and development outcomes, inventions, and innovations emerging from Nigerian universities, research institutes, polytechnics, technical colleges, and private innovators.

“We serve as the bridge between research and the marketplace—moving ideas from laboratories to livelihoods, from prototypes to products, and from concepts to commercial success.

“Through our nationwide incubation centres, we nurture startups, support inventors, de-risk technologies, facilitate intellectual property pathways, and connect innovators to capital.”

He also announced that the application window for the NextGen 2026 Innovation Challenge opens on February 26, 2026, and ends on March 28, 2026.

“Today, 26 February 2026, we officially launch the NEXTGEN Innovation Challenge 2026—proudly organised by NBTI under my leadership, in strategic partnership with UKALD, a United Kingdom–based consultancy firm.

“With innovation boot camps commencing in Abuja and a Grand Finale scheduled for October 2026 in London, NEXTGEN 2026 is not merely a competition—it is a national development catalyst and a platform for global innovation diplomacy.

“To our universities and research institutions, commercialisation must become central to academic excellence.

“To our young innovators and students, your ideas are national assets. The future is yours to build.”

The NBTI is driving Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem forward with initiatives like the NextGen Innovation Challenge, focusing on sectors such as artificial intelligence, renewable energy, and advanced semiconductors.

Through partnerships with international organisations, NBTI aims to position Nigeria as a regional hub for science, technology, and innovation excellence, aligning with national priorities and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

The agency has already secured significant investments, including £1.5 million for Interface Africa, and is expanding its global collaborations to boost Nigeria’s innovation landscape.