NASENI Awards N435.5m to Innovators, Backs Homegrown Technology Drive

The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) has awarded N435.5 million in grants to innovators and young inventors as the Federal Government intensifies efforts to promote homegrown technology, commercialise local ideas and strengthen Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem.

The grants were presented to winners of NASENI’s maiden InnovateNaija, FutureMakers and Intra-Inter Agency Innovation competitions at the State House Banquet Hall, Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Wednesday.

Representing President Bola Tinubu at the ceremony, the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr Kingsley Udeh, said the administration was committed to creating opportunities for Nigerian innovators to develop solutions to the country’s challenges.

He said the awards demonstrated the government’s confidence in the capacity of Nigerians to use innovation to drive economic growth and industrial development.

“The Federal Government remains committed to promoting innovation and developing home-grown technological solutions towards Nigeria’s industrialisation,” Udeh said.

He added, “This competition is a demonstration of government’s support for Nigerian innovators. We believe in your capacity to contribute to Nigeria’s future.”

The minister urged the beneficiaries to deploy the grants towards improving their innovations, building sustainable enterprises and creating jobs.

“Use these grants to refine your products, test your assumptions and build sustainable businesses that will create jobs and solve problems in our communities,” he said.

Under the InnovateNaija competition, the overall winner received N100 million, while the first and second runners-up received N30 million and N20 million respectively.

The 37 state champions, including the Federal Capital Territory, received N2.5 million each.

Six winners of NASENI’s Intra-Agency and Inter-Agency Innovation competitions also received a combined N162 million.

The three winners of the Inter-Agency competition shared N140 million, while N22.5 million was awarded to the three winners of the Intra-Agency competition.

The FutureMakers competition, which focuses on young Nigerians between the ages of five and 16, produced six national finalists who shared N23 million in prize money. The overall winner received N5 million.

Speaking at the event, NASENI’s Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Khalil Halilu, urged the beneficiaries to focus on developing innovations capable of addressing practical challenges.

“Innovation is not just about ideas; it is about solving problems that affect everyday lives. Stay focused on the problems your solutions are designed to address,” Halilu said.

He advised the awardees to protect their intellectual property, understand their finances, build strong teams and establish partnerships that would strengthen their capacity.

“Protect your intellectual property, understand your finances, build strong teams and seek partnerships that complement your capabilities,” he said.

Halilu further urged the innovators to remain connected to the people who would ultimately use their products.

“Listen to your users, test your products, learn from failures and continue to improve your solutions. This support is not an end in itself but a stepping stone to building successful enterprises,” he said.

Also speaking, the Director of Programmes at AfriLabs, Nanko Madu, commended the Federal Government and NASENI for recognising innovation as a driver of national development.

Madu said young Nigerians were increasingly developing solutions tailored to the country’s infrastructure, energy challenges, climate realities and local operating conditions.

“Young Nigerians are increasingly developing solutions tailored to our infrastructure, power challenges, climate realities and local operating conditions,” she said.

She added that supporting local innovators could help reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imported technologies while creating jobs and new economic opportunities.

“By supporting local innovators, Nigeria can reduce dependence on imported technologies and foreign expertise while creating jobs and economic opportunities,” Madu said.

The maiden competitions were organised by NASENI to identify innovative ideas with the potential to be transformed into commercial ventures, create employment and contribute to Nigeria’s technological and industrial development.

The initiative comes against the backdrop of growing efforts by government institutions to expand financing, incubation and other support mechanisms for startups, inventors and technology-driven enterprises.

For many Nigerian innovators, access to funding remains a major challenge in moving promising ideas from the development stage to commercially viable products. Grant programmes such as the NASENI competitions are therefore designed to provide financial support that can help innovators test, refine and scale their solutions.

The ceremony was attended by the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande; Deputy Governor of Kaduna State, Dr Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe; Director-General of the National Space Research and Development Agency, Prof Matthew Adepoju; members of NASENI’s management and other stakeholders.