NASENI Unveils ₦160m Innovation Grant as Indigenous Technologies Enter Final Commercialisation Stage
By Pan Afric Reporters
The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) has intensified its drive to commercialise homegrown technologies with the commencement of the final pitching exercise for its maiden Intra-Agency and Inter-Agency Innovation Competition, where the best indigenous innovations will compete for over ₦160 million in support grants aimed at accelerating industrial development and job creation.f
The development was disclosed in a press statement issued by NASENI and signed by its Director of Information, Mr. Olusegun Ayeoyenikan, who said the final pitching exercise, holding from August 5 to 6, 2026 at the Agency’s headquarters in Abuja, marks a significant milestone in NASENI’s renewed commitment to commercialising indigenous innovations and strengthening Nigeria’s industrialisation agenda.
Delivering the keynote address, the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NASENI, Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu, described the competition as a strategic initiative designed to institutionalise innovation across the public sector and transform homegrown ideas into commercially viable products and industries.
“Nigeria is blessed with abundant talent and creativity. What is required is a system that can identify innovative ideas, support their development and transform them into sustainable industrial capabilities,” Halilu said.
He explained that innovation thrives best in an ecosystem that encourages collaboration, knowledge sharing and strategic support, stressing that NASENI is committed to creating such an environment to enable promising ideas evolve into businesses capable of driving economic growth.
According to him, countries that have achieved sustainable industrial development did so through consistent investment in innovation, engineering excellence and local manufacturing.
Halilu noted that NASENI has repositioned itself from a research-oriented institution to one focused on delivering measurable industrial outcomes through indigenous technology development, strategic partnerships and commercialisation initiatives.
“More than an awards initiative, the programme represents NASENI’s determination to build a sustainable pipeline of indigenous innovations capable of creating industries, generating jobs and unlocking new opportunities for economic growth across the country,” he stated.
He added that the Agency’s transformation agenda is anchored on its three strategic pillars of Creation, Collaboration and Commercialisation, noting that innovation must ultimately improve lives, create employment opportunities and contribute meaningfully to national economic development.
Earlier, Chairman of the Steering Committee on Innovation Assessment and Awards and Director of Manufacturing Services, Engr. Dr. Olayode Olasupo, described the competition as a strategic platform for identifying and promoting innovative solutions capable of addressing national development challenges.
He disclosed that entries were received from diverse thematic areas including engineering, science, finance, information and communications technology, renewable energy, product packaging and other technology-driven sectors.
According to him, beyond assessing technical excellence, the independent assessors would evaluate each innovation based on practical relevance, scalability and commercial viability to ensure alignment with NASENI’s mandate of driving technology-based industrialisation.
Also speaking, Professor Teddy Tigina of Yakubu Gowon University, Abuja, and Chief Medical Director of the Federal University of Health Sciences Teaching Hospital, Otukpo, Benue State, emphasised the need for research and innovation to produce tangible benefits for society.
He commended the quality of submissions, describing them as evidence of the enormous innovative capacity within Nigeria’s public service.
“The quality of submissions reflects the immense talent available within the Nigerian Public Service, and these capabilities must be harnessed to address national challenges,” he said, assuring participants that the assessment process would be guided by fairness, objectivity and scientific integrity.
Providing an overview of the programme, Engr. Dr. Okesola Abayomi disclosed that 678 users registered on the innovation portal, while 261 complete entries were submitted, comprising 180 innovations from NASENI institutes and 81 entries from Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
He explained that all submissions underwent preliminary screening and technical assessment by independent experts under a blind review process to ensure transparency and fairness.
According to Abayomi, 10 finalists each from NASENI and participating MDAs eventually emerged and are currently presenting their innovations before the independent panel of assessors.
The competition is expected to conclude with the selection of the three most outstanding innovations in each category, with NASENI providing over ₦160 million in support grants to accelerate the commercialisation of the winning projects and strengthen Nigeria’s technology-driven industrial development.
