FG Urges Universities to Commercialise Research, Unveils Innovation Challenge

The Federal Government, through the National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI), has called on universities and other institutions to prioritise the commercialisation of research findings.

The Director-General of NBTI, Dr Raji Kolawole, made the appeal on Thursday in Abuja during a press briefing to announce the launch of the 2026 edition of the NextGen Innovation Challenge.

The NextGen Innovation Challenge is a national initiative aimed at positioning Nigeria as Africa’s innovation hub, focusing on high-impact sectors such as artificial intelligence, advanced semiconductors, green energy, and climate resilience. The platform provides Nigerian innovators with access to funding, mentorship, and global markets.

Raji described the challenge as “a defining national platform designed to accelerate innovation, mobilise investment, and position Nigeria as Africa’s undisputed innovation powerhouse.”

He added that President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms and belief in innovation as the new oil have redefined the country’s development architecture.

The director-general noted that NBTI remains the only government institution statutorily mandated to commercialise research and development outcomes 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,” he said.

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

The application window for the NextGen 2026 Innovation Challenge opens on February 26, 2026, and closes on March 28, 2026.

Raji announced that the initiative is organised by NBTI in strategic partnership with UKALD, a United Kingdom-based consultancy firm.

“Innovation boot camps will commence in Abuja, with a grand finale scheduled for October 2026 in London. NextGen 2026 is not merely a competition; it is a national development catalyst and a global innovation diplomacy,” he stated.

He urged universities and research institutions to make commercialisation central to academic excellence, adding, “To our young innovators and students, your ideas are national assets. The future is yours to build.”

The NBTI has already secured significant investments, including £1.5 million for Interface Africa, and continues to expand global collaborations to boost Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem.