The National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI) has showcased 298 Nigerian innovators from the country’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory to international investors in London, United Kingdom, with 16 beneficiaries selected to receive £100,000 each and participate in a three-month international programme to scale up their innovations and explore global market opportunities.
At the 2026 NextGen Innovation Challenge international grand finale, 16 innovators were selected to receive £10,000 each and participate in a three-month programme to scale up their innovations through exposure to international markets and technology ecosystems.
The programme is expected to take the beneficiaries to Finland, the United Arab Emirates and Estonia, among other European destinations, to strengthen their innovations and explore opportunities for international collaboration.
Six other participants received $100 each to support the development of their innovations.
The event brought together entrepreneurs, investors, government officials, diplomatic representatives and other stakeholders to explore opportunities for investment, technology development and partnerships.
Speaking at the grand finale, the Director-General of NBTI, Dr. Kazeem Raji, said the initiative was designed to transform Nigerian ideas into viable businesses, create jobs and strengthen the country’s innovation ecosystem.
Raji said innovation, entrepreneurship and technology commercialisation were critical to Nigeria’s ambition of building a $1 trillion economy, stressing that the country could not achieve the target through government efforts or natural resources alone.
He said Nigerians must develop technologies, manufacture products, establish enterprises, create intellectual property and compete successfully in international markets.
“A one-trillion-dollar economy cannot be built by government alone. It must be built by Nigerians who innovate, Nigerians who manufacture, Nigerians who invest, Nigerians who create intellectual property, Nigerians who build enterprises, and Nigerians who compete successfully in the global markets,” he said.
The NBTI chief explained that the NextGen Innovation Challenge was established to bridge the gap between innovative ideas and commercial opportunities by connecting entrepreneurs with investors, business partners and international markets.
He disclosed that the number of Nigerian innovators participating in the London showcase had increased from 105 in the previous edition to 298 this year, reflecting the programme’s expansion and growing reach across the country.
According to him, the initiative seeks to move indigenous research and innovation beyond prototypes to commercially viable products, sustainable businesses, employment generation and economic growth.
He commended the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Nigerian High Commission in the United Kingdom, the British High Commission and strategic partner UKALD for supporting the programme.
Raji also praised NBTI staff and technology incubation centre managers nationwide for identifying, mentoring and supporting innovators.
He said the programme’s success would ultimately be measured by the number of businesses established, technologies commercialised, investments secured, jobs created and lives improved.
“Today is a celebration, but tomorrow is the real test,” he said, urging the innovators to focus on building, commercialising and scaling their solutions for the global marketplace.
In a keynote address delivered on behalf of Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Ambassador Aminu Dalhatu, Ambassador Abu Obey Eche described the event as an opportunity to showcase Nigeria’s innovation potential to the international community.
Eche said London’s status as a major centre for finance, technology, research and enterprise made it an appropriate platform for Nigerian innovators seeking investors and international business partners.
He noted that modern diplomacy should extend beyond government-to-government relations to connecting businesses with markets, innovators with investors and researchers with institutions.
“Diplomacy today must go beyond governments speaking to governments. It must also connect businesses to markets, innovators to investors, researchers to institutions, and Nigerian opportunities to global capital,” he said.
The envoy reaffirmed the Nigerian High Commission’s commitment to building relationships that would enable local innovators to access international opportunities.
He also urged Nigerians in the diaspora to deploy their expertise, financial resources and knowledge of international markets to support emerging entrepreneurs in the country.
Eche commended the Federal Government, NBTI and UKALD for establishing a platform that connects grassroots innovators with global partners, while highlighting the possibility of extending the challenge to other Commonwealth countries.
An investor, Ms. Erin Grover, expressed interest in investing in at least one of the women entrepreneurs whose innovations were presented at the showcase.
Grover, who said she had worked with startups and nonprofit organisations across Africa and Asia, praised the creativity and entrepreneurial potential demonstrated by the participants.
“I think there are some inspiring women here especially who I’ve been able to speak with today, and I definitely hope to invest in at least one of them coming out of this event,” she said.
She encouraged the innovators to remain persistent, believe in their ideas and learn from mistakes, noting that determination and strong support networks were essential to building successful businesses.
Similarly, the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress in the United Kingdom and Executive Director of UKALD, Hon. Tunde Doherty, described the showcase as an opportunity to demonstrate the commercial potential of Nigerian innovations to international investors.
Doherty urged investors to consider Nigeria as a destination for technology and enterprise investment, citing the country’s human resources and creative capacity to develop globally competitive solutions.
He commended NBTI for expanding the initiative and providing young Nigerian innovators with opportunities to connect with international investors and potential business partners.
The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr. Mukhtar Muhammad, also praised the NBTI leadership for expanding the programme and creating opportunities for young Nigerians to develop practical solutions to societal challenges.
Muhammad said innovation was not limited to academic qualifications but involved identifying problems and developing workable solutions that improve people’s lives.
“If there is a problem in the society and you identify that problem and you try to solve it, you are making more impact to the society than someone who is doing several degrees in university,” he said.
He pledged increased support from the ministry for the initiative in the coming year and proposed that states establish their own processes for identifying and supporting promising innovators.
According to him, such an approach would encourage healthy competition, widen opportunities for young people and help uncover more indigenous technologies across the country.
Muhammad commended the participants for their commitment and perseverance, noting that developing original solutions often required sustained effort and dedication.
The 2026 NextGen Innovation Challenge forms part of broader efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem by connecting local entrepreneurs with international investment, expertise and markets.
The organisers expressed optimism that the initiative would deliver lasting benefits beyond the showcase, including investment deals, commercial partnerships, business expansion, job creation and increased global visibility for Nigerian innovations.
