The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) has awarded over N400 million to Nigerian innovators below its InnovateNaija programme and two different innovation initiatives.
The awards had been introduced on the InnovateNaija Grand Finale and Award Ceremony held on the State House Banquet Hall, Abuja, the place winners emerged from three programmes: InnovateNaija, FutureMakers and the NASENI Innovation Assessment and Awards Competition.
The programmes are designed to determine, assist and fund homegrown improvements, encourage younger Nigerians to develop options to societal challenges and promote technological growth inside authorities businesses.
Speaking on the occasion, NASENI’s govt vice chairman, Mr Khalil Halilu, mentioned Nigeria had no scarcity of concepts or folks able to creating options to its challenges.
He mentioned the main problem was offering innovators with a structured pathway to showcase their work, entry funding and develop their concepts into commercially viable merchandise.
InnovateNaija attracted 1,238 purposes throughout the nation. After an analysis course of, 133 improvements superior to the following stage, whereas 175,888 votes had been recorded through the first nationwide voting train.
The course of produced 36 state champions, every of whom acquired N2.5 million to develop their improvements.
Governors in Abia, Anambra, Enugu, Kaduna and Plateau states matched the grants, growing the awards for his or her respective champions to N5 million every.
An extra spherical of public voting, which recorded 65,846 web site votes and 53,514 social media votes, narrowed the competitors to 15 finalists.
Adaeze Ruth Akpagbula of Abia State emerged the general winner along with her Smart Poultry Climate Control System, receiving N100 million.
Oluwatoyin Ogundeji of Ondo State, who developed Smart Pond, got here second and acquired N30 million, whereas Aminu Sale Jino of Katsina State, whose innovation is an Electric Vehicle Charging Engine, gained N20 million.
The three finalists acquired a mixed N150 million, bringing InnovateNaija’s prize cash to N240 million, together with the N90 million awarded to the 36 state champions.
Zeberced, a NASENI companion and occasion sponsor, additionally awarded N2 million every to the 15 finalists.
Under FutureMakers, a programme carried out by NASENI in partnership with AfriLabs, Emmanuel Paul emerged winner together with his Lafiya Alert innovation, receiving N5 million.
The initiative targets kids and youngsters aged 5 to 16, introducing them to expertise, problem-solving and innovation.
FutureMakers and InnovateNaija attracted greater than 3,500 purposes from younger Nigerians and innovators throughout the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, with concepts overlaying agriculture, manufacturing, renewable vitality, training, healthcare and local weather change.
The third programme, the maiden NASENI Innovation Assessment and Awards Competition, recognised technological improvements developed inside the company and different federal ministries, departments and businesses (MDAs).
The competitors acquired 261 submissions, comprising 180 entries from inside NASENI and 81 from different federal businesses. Following preliminary screening and technical assessments, 20 finalists emerged and introduced their improvements in Abuja in August 2026.
In the inter-agency class, Dr Moshood Lanre Adetoro of the National Space Research and Development Agency gained N70 million. Dr Habila Bitrus of the Nigerian Institute of Leather and Science Technology got here second with N40 million, whereas Isaac Johnson Ajeh of the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development acquired N30 million.
In the intra-agency class, Usman Yusuf of NASENI gained N10 million, adopted by Oladapo Olatoye, an engineer, of the Electronics Development Institute, Awka, with N7.5 million. Mikairu Aminu Abu, an engineer, of NASENI Solar Energy Limited, got here third with N5 million.
The competitors awarded N162.5 million throughout the 2 classes.
NASENI mentioned the initiative would assist determine promising public sector improvements for additional growth, mentorship, prototyping, mental property assist and commercialisation.
UPDATE NEWS:
Nigerians can now make investments ₦2.5 million on premium domains and revenue about ₦17-₦25 million. All earnings paid in US Dollars. Rather than surprise,
click here to find out how it works.
