Igniting Nigeria’s Innovation Future: NBTI and NGF Unite for Technological Transformation, Youth Empowerment, and Inclusive Economic Growth.

In a powerful move to catalyze Nigeria’s technological renaissance and unlock its full innovation potential, the National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI) has deepened strategic collaboration with the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF). This high-level engagement marks a watershed moment in the country’s journey toward a knowledge-driven economy, job creation, and inclusive prosperity.

During a purposeful courtesy visit to the NGF Secretariat in Abuja, both institutions reaffirmed their joint commitment to deploying technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship as vehicles for national transformation.

Welcoming the NBTI delegation, Dr. Abdulateef Shittu, Director General of the NGF, hailed the visit as both timely and forward-looking. He underscored the pivotal role of innovation in driving governance reform, economic resilience, and youth engagement, describing the partnership as “a strategic alignment that mirrors Nigeria’s developmental urgency.”

Dr. Shittu spotlighted NGF’s landmark initiatives—the Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) Readiness Index and the Intelligent Revenue Index (IRI)—which serve as diagnostic tools for states to optimize digital capabilities and enhance fiscal sustainability. These frameworks, he emphasized, are instrumental in accelerating service delivery and fostering tech-enabled governance.

In an inspiring acknowledgment of NBTI’s achievements, Dr. Shittu applauded the NextGen Innovation Challenge and the Board’s nationwide programs nurturing youth-led ventures. He expressed full support for integrating NBTI’s innovation boot camps, showcases, and policy dialogues into state-level initiatives, encouraging synergy across state structures and youth-focused ecosystems.

A standout moment in the discussions was Dr. Shittu’s proposal to establish a Joint Working Committee—a tactical unit to identify collaboration touchpoints, harmonize state-level implementation, and ensure seamless engagement between the NGF and NBTI.

On his part, Dr. Kazeem Kolawole Raji, Director General/CEO of NBTI, expressed deep gratitude for NGF’s sustained partnership, especially their presence at the unveiling of the 2025 NextGen Innovation Challenge. With over 3,000 applications within two weeks of launch, Dr. Raji highlighted the Challenge’s resounding success as a barometer of Nigerian youths’ innovation appetite.

He further announced the institutionalization of the Innovation Challenge as an annual national event, designed to systematically harness local talent, support startups, and accelerate economic diversification.

Dr. Raji emphasized NBTI’s expansive footprint across the federation, detailing how its incubation centres have successfully commercialized over 10,000 indigenous products, many of which are already making waves on international platforms and the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

Central to NBTI’s strategic roadmap is the proposed establishment of Renewed Hope Technology Hubs and Parks—ambitious high-tech centres across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones and the FCT, modeled after global innovation powerhouses like Silicon Valley, Shenzhen, and Nairobi. These hubs aim to empower 50,000 startups annually, generate over one million jobs, and significantly enhance non-oil exports.

Dr. Raji showcased NBTI’s ongoing advances in frontier sectors, including:
• Artificial Intelligence & Advanced Technologies
• Smart Agriculture & AgriTech
• HealthTech, CleanTech, and EduTech
• 3D Printing, Robotics, and Drone Innovation
• Indigenous Machine Fabrication and CNG Vehicle Conversions

He also highlighted breakthrough projects such as localized manufacturing of rice milling machines, mini stone crushers, and transformative efforts to convert local raw materials into export-grade finished products among others.

In a heartfelt appeal, Dr. Raji acknowledged the unwavering support of state governors in hosting and sustaining NBTI incubation centres and called for deeper multi-level collaboration to expand innovation access and uplift communities nationwide.

The session concluded with a resounding commitment to forge ahead with a unified innovation agenda. The newly established joint committee will serve as the operational backbone for delivering transformative impact, aligning national aspirations with local realities.

More importantly, Dr Raji emphasised that this landmark collaboration is a direct reflection of the bold, visionary leadership of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, whose Renewed Hope Agenda is reigniting national confidence, economic ambition, and technological advancement across all sectors. His administration’s unwavering support for innovation, job creation, and private sector-led growth has created fertile ground for transformative partnerships like that of NBTI and the NGF.

Under President Tinubu’s leadership, Nigeria is not just dreaming of a better future—it is actively building one. The Nigeria First Policy, a cornerstone of the administration’s economic doctrine, is empowering homegrown solutions, indigenous technologies, and local entrepreneurship—placing Nigerian ingenuity at the forefront of national development.

Furthermore, Nigeria’s strategic alignment with the BRICS economic alliance under President Tinubu’s foreign policy recalibration signals a decisive shift toward multipolar cooperation, enhanced trade flows, and greater access to global markets. This move positions Nigeria as a serious player on the global innovation stage and as a continental engine for sustainable industrialization.

President Tinubu’s tireless commitment to structural reforms, digital economy expansion, youth empowerment, and infrastructure modernization underscores a clear message: Nigeria is open for innovation. It is a call to action for all Nigerians—especially the youth, entrepreneurs, investors, and technologists—to seize the moment and leverage the limitless opportunities emerging under this transformative leadership.

Together, with unwavering support from the Presidency, committed leadership from state governments, and dynamic institutions like NBTI and NGF, Nigeria is poised to leap into a future driven by innovation, anchored in resilience, and defined by shared prosperity.

This collaboration signals a bold new chapter in Nigeria’s development story—where innovation leads, youth thrive, and the future is built on ideas, ingenuity, and inclusive partnerships.

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