Technology Incubation Center, Lafia

26/02/2026

Powering Nigeria’s Future: NBTI Unveils the NextGen Innovation Challenge 2026

National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI), under the visionary leadership of Dr. Kazeem Kolawole Raji, Director General/CEO, today officially unveils the NextGen Innovation Challenge 2026 in Abuja—marking a defining moment in Nigeria’s journey toward a globally competitive, innovation-driven economy.

The Application Portal Is Now Open

Deadline: 28 March 2026

The NextGen Innovation Challenge 2026 calls on Nigeria’s brightest innovators, researchers, startups, inventors, academics, students, entrepreneurs, and technology-driven enterprises to submit market-ready, scalable solutions with clear commercial value and strong investment potential.

This year’s edition is intentionally designed to move beyond concepts and pitch decks. It focuses on validated innovations capable of real-world deployment, revenue generation, job creation, and global competitiveness. NextGen 2026 is not merely a competition—it is a structured commercialization pipeline aligned with NBTI’s statutory mandate to nurture, incubate, and accelerate indigenous technologies into viable enterprises.

Critical Priority Sectors

Entries are invited across high-impact sectors central to Nigeria’s development priorities and aligned with emerging global technology frontiers:
• Artificial Intelligence & Robotics
• Advanced Semiconductors & Digital Infrastructure
• Software Engineering & Advanced Design
• Telecommunications (6G & AI Integration)
• Green & Renewable Energy Technologies
• Climate Resilience & Flood Detection Systems
• Climate-Smart & Environmental Solutions
• Safety, Surveillance & Smart Tracking Technologies.
• Agri-tech, Health-tech & Edu-tech
• 3D Automation & Additive Manufacturing
• Virtual Reality & Immersive Technologies
• Women-in-Tech & Gender-Inclusive Innovations

These domains reflect Nigeria’s ambition to strengthen industrial capacity, deepen technological sovereignty, enhance climate resilience, and expand inclusive economic participation.

Strategic Global Partnerships

NextGen 2026 is reinforced by high-level international partnerships, including:
• Innovate UK
• Teesside University, UK
• Google
• Cambridge Alternative Finance
• Commonwealth Investment Network (CIN)
• International climate-finance partners

These institutions will provide structured mentorship, commercialization pathways, investor matchmaking, and direct access to global markets and financing ecosystems.

Programme Milestones
• Innovation Boot Camps – July 2026 (Abuja):
Intensive training, product validation, commercialization refinement, and investor-readiness acceleration.
• Global Grand Finale – October 2026 (London):
Selected innovators will pitch before international investors, policymakers, development institutions, and global industry leaders.

Merit-Based, Globally Benchmarked Evaluation

In line with global best practice, all submissions will be assessed using the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) framework—ensuring objective, transparent, and internationally recognized evaluation based on technological maturity, functionality, scalability, and market readiness.

The 2026 edition is strictly merit-driven.

Dedicated Innovate UK Commercialization Slots

As part of NBTI’s commitment to high-impact, investment-ready innovation, 20 exclusive Innovate UK-backed slots have been secured for advanced innovations with Minimum Viable Products (MVPs).

These are reserved for technologies that have:
• Successfully passed proof-of-concept
• Demonstrated operational functionality
• Reached early-stage commercial deployment

Selected innovators will receive accelerated incubation support, priority investor exposure, and structured pathways to international markets.

NextGen Innovation Challenge 2026 represents a strategic national platform to translate Nigerian ingenuity into enterprise, employment, exports, and global technological relevance.

Innovators are strongly encouraged to apply early via: www.nextgeninnovation.ng

Application Deadline: 28 March 2026

Nigeria’s next global technology champions will emerge from this platform.

Asiwaju Ibrahim Agboola
Information & Public Relations Officer
National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI)
Abuja, Nigeria

26/02/2026

Join to watch live the world press conference by the DG NBTI, heralding the 2026 NETGEN Innovation challenge.

Join to watch the world live press conference.

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/nbti.hq?mibextid=ZbWKwL

IG
https://www.instagram.com/nbtihq?utm_source=qr&igsh=Nms0ODgwNjJwM3l6

26/02/2026

🚀 The D-Day Is Here! 🚀

Join us LIVE at 11:00 a.m. for the World Press Conference heralding the official kickoff of the *NextGen Innovation Challenge 2026* — a defining moment for innovation, enterprise, and national transformation.

Witness an epoch-making event as we unveil a bold vision that will take ideas from raw materials to the global market.

This is more than a conference.
It’s the beginning of another opportunities, partnerships, and groundbreaking solutions that will shape the future.

Be part of the moment.
Be part of the movement.

🚀 The future starts now.

17/02/2026

*Strengthening Institutional Alignment for Innovation-Driven Prosperity Under the Renewed Hope Agenda*

Yesterday, Dr. Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh, Honourable Minister of Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, convened a high-level two-day Strategic Stakeholders’ Workshop for Directors-General and critical agencies under the Ministry. The engagement was purposefully designed to rigorously assess institutional performance, identify operational gaps, enhance efficiency, and deepen strategic alignment with the Renewed Hope Agenda of His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.

Among the distinguished participants was Dr. Kazeem Kolawole Raji, Director-General/Chief Executive Officer of the National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI), who presented a compelling and comprehensive account of milestones achieved within his first year in office. He articulated a bold, forward-looking vision anchored on scalable innovation, enterprise development, and measurable socioeconomic impact—outlining clear expectations of transformative outcomes for Nigerians in the years ahead.

Dr. Raji further challenged fellow agency heads to embrace the full weight of their mandates with renewed vigor, professionalism, and accountability. He emphasized that accelerated national development demands disciplined ex*****on, inter-agency collaboration, operational excellence, and unwavering responsiveness to the evolving needs of the nation.

The Workshop proved both timely and strategic—serving as a robust platform for real-time performance evaluation, constructive peer review, quality assurance, and institutional recalibration. More importantly, it reinforced synergy across agencies and strengthened collective resolve to translate policy frameworks into tangible results.

In alignment with the Renewed Hope Agenda, the Ministry and its agencies remain steadfast in advancing innovation-led growth, technology commercialization, job creation, and sustainable national prosperity—ensuring that science, technology, and enterprise development serve as catalysts for inclusive economic transformation for all Nigerians.

*Asiwaju Ibrahim Agboola*
*Information and Public Relations Officer*
*National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI)*
*Abuja, Nigeria.*

11/02/2026

*Benue State Deepens Strategic Partnership with NBTI to Advance Innovation, Agricultural Value Addition and Renewed Hope Economic Transformation*

The Deputy Governor of Benue State, His Excellency Dr. Sam Ode, on behalf of the Executive Governor, His Excellency Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia, paid a high-level courtesy visit to the Director General/Chief Executive Officer of the National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI), Dr. Kazeem Kolawole Raji, in Abuja, to strengthen institutional collaboration in science, technology, innovation, and agricultural value addition.

The visit underscores Benue State Government’s deliberate commitment to building a knowledge-driven and innovation-led economy, in alignment with the Renewed Hope Agenda and Nigeria First Policy of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR — whose bold, reform-oriented economic policies are repositioning Nigeria toward sustainable productivity, industrial growth, and global competitiveness.

Speaking during the engagement, Dr. Sam Ode conveyed the warm regards of Governor Hyacinth Alia and reiterated the State Government’s resolve to consolidate the strategic relationship initiated with NBTI in 2024. He noted that global economic realities clearly demonstrate that nations which prioritise science, technology, and innovation (STI) are better positioned to achieve sustainable development, job creation, and wealth expansion.

In a forward-looking policy move, the Benue State Government restructured its former Ministry of Science and Energy into the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation to ensure seamless alignment with the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology and its agencies. This restructuring reflects the administration’s recognition that innovation is no longer optional but central to economic transformation.

The Deputy Governor further highlighted the establishment of a specialised University of Science and Agriculture at Ihugh, designed to serve as a nucleus for research, innovation, agro-technology development, and enterprise creation. He expressed the State Government’s strong interest in partnering with NBTI to support the institution’s take-off, nurture innovators, and commercialise research outputs.

Emphasising Benue State’s comparative advantage as Nigeria’s leading agricultural producer, Dr. Ode stressed the urgent need to transition from primary production to technology-enabled value addition across agricultural value chains. He noted that partnership with NBTI would significantly enhance agro-processing, stimulate industrial clusters, expand export potential, increase internally generated revenue, and create sustainable employment for youths and women.

The Deputy Governor formally invited the NBTI management to undertake a strategic working visit to Benue State to identify priority intervention areas and design a structured collaboration framework. The delegation included the Honourable Commissioner for Science, Technology and Innovation and senior ministry officials.

Responding, the Director General/CEO of NBTI, Dr. Kazeem Kolawole Raji, warmly welcomed the delegation and commended Governor Hyacinth Alia for his visionary leadership and commitment to leveraging innovation as a development tool.

Dr. Raji reaffirmed NBTI’s statutory mandate to drive technology incubation, enterprise development, commercialisation of indigenous innovations, and the promotion of innovation-driven entrepreneurship across Nigeria. He emphasised that NBTI’s programmes are fully aligned with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly its focus on economic diversification, youth empowerment, industrialisation, and the Nigeria First Policy which prioritises local production, domestic capacity building, and export competitiveness.

He further noted that President Tinubu’s courageous macroeconomic reforms — though bold and demanding — are laying the structural foundation for a resilient, production-driven Nigerian economy anchored on innovation, value addition, and private sector growth. According to him, federal agencies such as NBTI are strategically positioned to translate these national reforms into grassroots economic impact.

Dr. Raji outlined NBTI’s nationwide footprint and intervention framework, which spans indigenous technologies, emerging technologies, agro-processing innovation, creative industries, and inclusive incubation models that accommodate both literate and non-literate innovators.

He highlighted successful value chain interventions, particularly in yam processing, describing it as a transformative opportunity for Benue State. By converting raw yam into high-value finished and semi-finished products such as yam flour and starch derivatives, the state can unlock export markets, stabilise farmer incomes, reduce post-harvest losses, and significantly expand employment opportunities.

The DG also disclosed ongoing engagements with international markets, particularly in the United Kingdom, aimed at positioning Nigerian agro-processed products for global competitiveness through standardisation, packaging innovation, and certification support.

He referenced the remarkable success of NBTI’s NextGen Innovation Challenge 2025 and over 14,000 jobs created nationwide by NBTI within the past year — surpassing projected targets — as evidence of the agency’s growing impact. He expressed confidence that with stronger sub-national collaboration, particularly with progressive states like Benue, the programme’s impact would multiply significantly.

Both parties agreed to institutionalise the partnership through structured frameworks, including the ex*****on of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs), strengthening of Technology Incubation Centres in Benue State, development of agro-processing hubs, support for the new University of Science and Agriculture, and joint youth-focused enterprise acceleration initiatives.

The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to advancing inclusive, innovation-driven economic growth that empowers young people, enhances agricultural productivity, and contributes meaningfully to Nigeria’s national economic transformation under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

*Reuben Shagu*
*Assistant Director*
*Head, Information and Public Relations*
*National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI)*
*Abuja, Nigeria*

*10 February 2026*

06/02/2026

https://promptnewsonline.com/nextgen-innovation-challenge-2026-consolidating-nigerias-technological-renaissance/

By Nojeem Oluwole Badmus What began as a bold intellectual experiment on May 28, 2025 has rapidly evolved into a globally referenced model for technology-driven innovation advancement. This transformation was emphatically confirmed with the successful hosting of the Grand Finale of the NextGen Innov...

05/02/2026

NDE and NBTI Sign MoU to Boost Innovation and Employment

A significant milestone was achieved today as the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) and the National Board of Technology Incubation (NBTI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to foster collaboration in promoting innovation, entrepreneurship, and job creation.

The signing ceremony took place at the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science, and Technology, Abuja, with the Director General of NDE, His Excellency, Silas Ali Agara @⁨+234 703 768 3663⁩, and the Director General of NBTI, Dr. Kazeem Kolawole Raji @⁨DG NBTI (Kolawole RAJI)⁩, Fcipm-Uk, Fpma-Uk in attendance.

This partnership aims to leverage the strengths of both organizations to promote technology-based entrepreneurship, skills development, and employment opportunities for Nigerian youth. The collaboration is expected to enhance innovation, drive economic growth, and improve the overall socio-economic landscape of the country.

The MoU signing ceremony marks a new chapter in the journey towards a more innovative and employment-driven Nigeria. We look forward to the exciting developments that this partnership will bring!

10/11/2025

https://kapitalfm.gov.ng/2025/11/08/dg-nbti-felicitates-with-udeh-on-his-appointment-as-minister/

The Director General of the National Board for Technology Incubation, Dr. Kazeem Kolawole Raji, has congratulated Dr. Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh on his appointment as Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology.

26/10/2025

*Commonwealth Nations Poised to Adopt Nigeria’s NBTI Innovation Model to Power Inclusive Growth Across 56 Member States.*

*London, United Kingdom — October 13, 2025*

In a decisive step toward reshaping the future of innovation and investment across the Commonwealth, the National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI) of Nigeria has positioned its proven model of innovation and enterprise incubation as a blueprint for all 56 Commonwealth member nations.

The landmark engagement, held at the *Nigerian High Commission in London, was led by Dr. Kazeem Kolawole Raji, Director-General/CEO of NBTI, and hosted by Ambassador Abu-Obe Eche, Acting High Commissioner of Nigeria to the United Kingdom.* The high-level strategic meeting brought together representatives of the Commonwealth Secretariat, innovation partners, and senior officials from NBTI to explore how Nigeria’s success in grassroots innovation can inform a Commonwealth-wide strategy for resilient, inclusive, and investment-ready economies.

*Nigeria’s Leadership in Driving Commonwealth Innovation.*

In his address, Dr. Raji reaffirmed Nigeria’s unwavering commitment to deepening collaboration with Commonwealth institutions and advancing innovation-driven development. He emphasized that NBTI stands as a tested model for transforming local innovation into globally competitive enterprises—a system that has consistently produced bankable projects, generated employment, and diversified the Nigerian economy.

“Our research shows that the challenge is not the absence of capital, but the absence of investable, innovation-driven projects,” Dr. Raji noted. “*NBTI is that mechanism*. It turns grassroots creativity into commercially viable enterprises, linking innovators, investors, and markets. We believe this model can be replicated across the Commonwealth to unlock shared prosperity.”

Through its flagship *Technology Incubation Programme (TIP), NBTI provides structured,* hands-on support for entrepreneurs—offering incubation facilities, mentorship, and access to investment networks. This model, Dr. Raji explained, directly addresses the “bankable project deficit” identified in the Commonwealth’s innovation landscape.

*Strategic Alignment with Commonwealth Priorities.*

The London meeting underscored the strong alignment between *Nigeria’s innovation agenda and the Commonwealth Secretariat’s Strategic Plan 2025–2030.* Discussions centered on the *C-RISE Framework (Commonwealth Resilience, Inclusion and Scale-Up Ecosystem) and the Commonwealth Investment Network (CIN)—initiatives designed to scale innovation and investment collaboration across all member states.*

The engagement also served as part of Nigeria’s preparations for the 2025 Commonwealth Finance Ministers Meeting (CFMM) in Washington, D.C., under the theme “Strengthening Economic Resilience Amidst the International Policy Shift.” *Nigeria’s proposed intervention for the CFMM highlights NBTI as a replicable, results-oriented mechanism for creating pipelines of investable projects and promoting sustainable, inclusive growth.*

*Celebrating Nigerian Innovation on the Global Stage*

The meeting followed the successful *NextGen Innovation Challenge 2025 Grand Finale in London, a flagship NBTI–UKALD partnership event that showcased 105 pioneering Nigerian innovators. *The highlight of the event was the recognition of Mr. Al-Amin Muhammad Idris, winner of the £1.5 million NextGen Innovation Challenge Award, whose groundbreaking innovation exemplifies Nigeria’s expanding global influence in technology and enterprise.*

“This achievement demonstrates that with the right support ecosystem, African innovators can lead the world in creativity, resilience, and commercial success,” Dr. Raji remarked.

*The Commonwealth delegation, led by Mr. Arif Zaman and Ms. Angela,* applauded Nigeria’s leadership, *describing the NBTI model as a “powerful and practical framework” for activating innovation ecosystems across diverse economies within the Commonwealth.*

*Towards a Commonwealth Innovation and Investment Ecosystem*

Participants at the meeting reaffirmed their collective commitment to strengthen collaboration among Nigeria, the Commonwealth Secretariat, and accredited partners toward operationalizing the *C-RISE Framework*. *This partnership will drive the establishment of an Integrated Commonwealth Innovation and Investment Ecosystem, to be showcased at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Antigua and Barbuda in 2026.*

“*Nigeria stands ready to lead this charge,” Dr. Raji stated. “By sharing our experience through NBTI, we can help the Commonwealth turn innovation into investment and investment into shared prosperity.”*

*A Vision for Shared Prosperity*

The proposed framework—captured in the report “*From Mandate to Momentum”—* advocates a Pan-Commonwealth strategy built on three interdependent pillars:
*1. Connecting the Archipelago:* Building digital, legal, and regulatory corridors for a seamless Commonwealth innovation market.
*2. Resourcing the Ecosystem:* Mobilising blended finance, diaspora investments, and skills for sustainable growth.
*3. Involving the Citizenry:* Embedding co-design and inclusive participation to ensure innovation serves real human needs.

The newly established *Commonwealth Investment Network (CIN)* will serve as the delivery engine for this agenda—providing technical assistance, knowledge exchange, and private-sector linkages to replicate NBTI’s success across all member states.

*Nigeria’s Moment of Leadership*

As the Commonwealth advances toward *CHOGM 2026, Nigeria’s NBTI model stands as a beacon of possibility—a practical solution to the Commonwealth’s most pressing economic challenge: transforming ideas into investable realities.*

With strategic foresight and unwavering commitment, Dr. Kazeem Kolawole Raji and his team at NBTI have placed Nigeria at the forefront of a new Commonwealth vision—one where innovation, inclusion, and investment work hand in hand to create a resilient and prosperous future for all.

*Olajumoke David*
*Chief Information and Public Relations Officer*
*National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI)*
*Abuja, Nigeria*

*October 26, 2025.*

21/10/2025

https://bentelevision.com/nbti-promoting-ai-development-in-nigeria-through-incubation-infrastructure-dr-kazeem-kolawole-raji/

*NBTI Promoting AI Development in Nigeria through Incubation Infrastructure - Dr Kazeem Kolawole Raji*

The Director-General/Chief Executive Officer of the National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI), Dr. Kazeem Kolawole Raji, has emphasized the need for a systems thinking approach to Artificial Intelligence (AI) development in Nigeria.

Speaking at the *Global Sustainable Technology and Innovation Community Conference* *(G-STIC 2025) and Master-Class held in Abuja,* Dr. Raji highlighted the opportunities AI presents, including transforming key sectors and driving inclusive industrialization. However, he noted that Nigeria's AI ecosystem is still nascent, with the continent holding less than 1% of global AI computing capacity.

Dr. Raji identified key challenges facing Nigeria's AI ecosystem, including infrastructure, talent, and ecosystem maturity. He emphasized the need for a systems thinking approach to address these challenges.

According to the DG/ CEO
"Globally, AI investment, adoption and diffusion are on an extraordinary trajectory. Africa’s place in this, while still nascent, is growing — and no longer optional for our national development agenda".

According to recent reports, Africa hosts approximately 2,400 organisations active in AI (including startups, research labs, corporates) and about 40 % of those are startups.

Nevertheless, the continent still holds less than 1 % of global AI computing capacity.

In financial terms: Africa’s AI investment in 2025 is estimated in the range of US$2–3 billion, which represents only about 1-1.5 % of global AI investment.

Sectorally, generative AI alone could unlock up to US$100 billion annually across the continent in sectors such as banking, Agriculture, retail, telecommunications.

"Geographically, the ecosystem remains highly concentrated: four countries—Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa and Egypt—accounted for about 83 % of AI startup investment in early 2025.

"In many African nations, national AI readiness remains low: For example, the region of SubSaharan Africa ranked last in the global AI readiness index in recent years".

The NBTI DG outlined the organization's role in promoting AI development in Nigeria, including providing incubation infrastructure and advocating for regulatory frameworks. He called on participants to think systematically and design AI solutions for scale and sustainability.

In her keynote address, Mrs Esuabana Nko Asanye, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, appealed to Nigerians to use AI positively to address national challenges, including insecurity.

In their separate remarks, Chairman Senate committee on Science and Technology, Senator Iya Abbas and his counterpart in the house of representatives, Hon Garba Inuwa commended the Director General/ CEO of NBTI for his efforts especially with the recent concluded NextGen programme held in London which saw a Nigerian Entrepreneur win £1.5 Million of which according to them is first in the history of Science and Technology in Nigeria.

*The Conference theme was "Artificial Intelligence Ecosystem, Systems Thinking and Systems Dynamic”*

Sunday Uduma The Director-General/Chief Executive Officer of the National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI), Dr. Kazeem Kolawole Raji, has emphasized the need for a systems thinking approach to Artificial Intelligence (AI) development in Nigeria. Speaking at the *Global Sustainable Technology a...

09/10/2025

https://bentelevision.com/breaking-news-nigerian-innovator-wins-1-5-million-nextgen-innovation-challenge-in-london/

Al’amin Muhammed Idris, CEO of Interface Africa, has emerged as the winner of the NextGen Innovation Challenge, representing Kaduna State. He received a cash award of 1.5 million pounds at the grand finale held in Paddington, London, today, October 9, 2025. Interface Africa, under Idris’ leaders...

03/10/2025

https://bentelevision.com/breaking-news-nigeria-to-showcase-105-groundbreaking-innovations-at-nextgen-challenge-in-london/

Published by Sunday Uduma The National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI) is set to revolutionize the global innovation scene with the NextGen Innovation Challenge 2025. On October 9, 2025, 105 pioneering Nigerian innovators will converge at the Hilton London Paddington for the Grand Finale, sho...