From Charity Nwakaudu, Abuja
The Federal Government of Nigeria has called on both local and foreign investors to invest in young indigenous innovators.
The Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Chief Uche Nnaji, made this call at the 2025 National Exhibition of NextGen Innovation Challenge, themed “Unveiling Nigeria’s future through innovation”.
He stressed that the young innovators do not just have ideas but solutions, blueprints, and scalable products that will redefine industries and lives.
According to him, this event is not just an exhibition but an embodiment of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.
“The President has made it clear that we will no longer be a nation that imports solutions to problems we have the capacity to solve. We will unleash the innovation of our people, unlock the potential of our youth, and build an inclusive economy that rewards ideas, enterprise, and courage,” he stated.
Speaking on the exhibition, the Minister explained that over 3,000 innovation entries have been received across the country this year, and 74 innovators have emerged at the final stage.
He urged the finalists to see their selection as a national endorsement of their potential to solve real problems and move the nation forward.
In his welcome address, the Director General of the National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI), Dr Kazeem Kolawole Raji, said the time for Nigeria to lead in innovation is now.
He added that NBTI is a vanguard of vision, building not just systems but ecosystems and platforms for prosperity.
Raji stressed that two innovators from each of the 36 states, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), will be contesting at the exhibition, and the top 37 will earn their place in London at a global innovation event.
