The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) has awarded N435.5 million in grants to innovators across Nigeria. The grants were presented to winners of the Innovate Naija, Future Makers, Intra-Agency and Inter-Agency competitions at an award ceremony held at the State House Banquet Hall, Presidential Villa, Abuja. This initiative aims to promote innovation and develop home-grown technological solutions toward Nigeria's industrialization.
The national winner of the Innovate Naija competition received N100 million, while the first and second runners-up received N30 million and N20 million, respectively. Additionally, 37 state champions, including Abuja, received N2.5 million each. The top six winners of the NASENI intra-agency and inter-agency competitions received a combined N162 million, with N140 million going to the three winners of the inter-agency competition and N22.5 million shared among the three winners of the intra-agency competition.
The top six finalists in the Future Makers competition received a combined N23 million in prize money, with the overall winner receiving a N5 million grant prize. President Bola Tinubu, represented by the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr. Kingsley Udeh, presented the awards and reaffirmed the federal government's commitment to promoting innovation. Udeh urged the beneficiaries to deploy the grants responsibly to improve their solutions and contribute to national development.
The Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NASENI, Mr. Khalil Halilu, charged the award recipients to continue developing innovations that address everyday challenges confronting Nigerians. He advised them to protect their intellectual property, understand their finances, build strong teams, and seek partnerships that complement their capabilities. Halilu also urged them to remain focused on the problems their innovations seek to solve and continually improve their solutions.
The Director of Programmes, AfriLabs, Nanko Madu, commended the federal government and NASENI for recognizing innovation as a critical driver of national development. She applauded the award recipients for developing solutions to some of the country's pressing challenges and urged them to remain creative, resilient, and entrepreneurial. Madu noted that young Nigerians are increasingly developing solutions tailored to the country's infrastructure, power challenges, climate, and local operating conditions.
The joint awards presentation marked the completion of the maiden edition of NASENI's innovation competitions. The initiative aims to support Nigerian innovators and contribute to the country's future. The federal government believes in the capacity of the innovators to drive national development and is committed to providing support and resources to help them succeed.
The NASENI innovation competitions have provided a platform for Nigerian innovators to showcase their talents and develop solutions to the country's pressing challenges. The awards ceremony celebrated the achievements of the winners and encouraged them to continue developing innovative solutions that can drive national development and improve the lives of Nigerians.
Key points
- NASENI awards N435.5 million to innovators across Nigeria.
- The initiative aims to promote innovation and develop home-grown technological solutions toward Nigeria's industrialization.
- The federal government is committed to supporting Nigerian innovators and driving national development.
