From Charity Nwakaudu, Abuja
The Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Chief Uche Nnaji, says creativity and innovation are vital in driving the nation’s economic development.
Nnaji stated this at the unveiling ceremony of the NextGen Innovators Challenge 2025 on Wednesday, May 28, in Abuja.
He said the Innovators Challenge, led by the National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI) in collaboration with a United Kingdom-based consulting and development advisory firm, UKALD, and other strategic partners, is designed to break down barriers faced by local inventors.
The minister, who was represented by his Senior Special Adviser, Administration, Dr Robert Ngwu, said the programme is building a direct partnership between local talents and global opportunities, noting that it will also provide access to investors, mentors, technical assistance, and boost commercialisation.
He said, “This challenge is more than a programme—it is a national movement. A clarion call to every young Nigerian with a spark of brilliance, a novel idea, or a transformative solution ready to shape our collective future.”
“This platform is designed to reach every Local Government Area in the country, ensuring that no talent is left unseen, no innovation is left unsupported, and no dream is deemed too small,” the minister stated.
“From young minds building drones with local materials, to those designing solar-powered vehicles, developing smart agricultural apps, or pioneering clean energy,” Chief Nnaji noted.
He added that the challenge is a journey ignited by the spirit of discovery, sustained by visionary leadership, and powered by the indomitable will of the Nigerian people.
In his welcome address, the Director General, National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI), Dr Kazeem Kolawole Raji, said the programme will ignite a renaissance of ideas, invention, and inclusive prosperity driven by the creativity of young Nigerians across the globe.
He added that the initiative is aligned with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which places innovation, technology, industrialisation, and economic competitiveness at the forefront of the nation’s growth.
Raji emphasised that the NextGen Innovators Challenge 2025 is not a mere competition but a technological movement to awaken and place Nigerian youths on the global stage.
“We are deliberately reaching out to the 774 Local Government Areas to build an inclusive innovation pipeline that reflects the true diversity and genius of Nigerians. Our mission is to empower grassroots innovation and innovators to ascend the global stage.”
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