FG Urges Universities to Commercialise Research as NextGen 2026 Innovation Challenge Launches

The Federal Government has called on Nigerian universities and research institutions to prioritise the commercialisation of research outputs, positioning innovation as a driver of national development.

Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja on Thursday, the Director-General of the National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI), Dr. Raji Kolawole, announced the kickoff of the 2026 edition of the NextGen Innovation Challenge. He described the initiative as a “defining national platform” designed to accelerate innovation, mobilise investment, and establish Nigeria as Africa’s leading innovation powerhouse.

The NextGen Innovation Challenge focuses on high-impact sectors including artificial intelligence, advanced semiconductors, green energy, and climate resilience. It offers Nigerian innovators access to funding, mentorship, and global markets. The application window runs from February 26 to March 28, 2026, with innovation boot camps scheduled in Abuja and a grand finale set for October in London.

Kolawole emphasised that NBTI remains the Federal Government’s foremost technology incubation agency, mandated to bridge the gap between research and the marketplace. “We move ideas from laboratories to livelihoods, from prototypes to products, and from concepts to commercial success,” he said, highlighting the agency’s role in nurturing startups, supporting inventors, and connecting innovators to capital.

He further noted that President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms have redefined Nigeria’s development architecture, stressing that “innovation is the new oil.” The NBTI has already secured significant investments, including £1.5m for Interface Africa, and continues to expand global collaborations to strengthen Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem.

Through initiatives like NextGen 2026, the government aims to align science and technology with national priorities and the UN Sustainable Development Goals, while urging universities to make commercialisation central to academic excellence.