FG Champions Nigerian Innovators: Showcasing Homegrown Tech for a Brighter Future”
By Gambo Jagindi
July 09, 2025
The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to harnessing homegrown innovation as the driving force behind Nigeria’s development, marking a significant shift from consumption to production and paving the way for economic sovereignty. This was evident at the National Exhibition of the NextGen Innovation Challenge 2025 in Abuja, where Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Chief Uche Geoffrey Nnaji, emphasized that innovation is now at the heart of the Renewed Hope Agenda.
The exhibition showcased groundbreaking solutions in areas such as clean energy, agri-tech, health tech, fintech, edtech, and artificial intelligence, with over 3,000 entries received from all 36 states and the FCT. Seventy-four finalists were selected to display their innovative projects, and 37 trailblazers – two from each state and the FCT – were chosen to represent Nigeria at global innovation platforms.
Dr. Kazeem Kolawole Raji, Director General of the National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI), emphasized that the event represents a turning point in Nigeria’s story – “a chapter defined not by what lies beneath our soil, but by what rises from within our minds.” He highlighted the importance of platforms like the Nigeria First Policy and Nigeria’s recent inclusion in BRICS, which will open up new markets and elevate local innovations to global relevance.
Chief Nnaji declared, “This is not just an exhibition – it is a national endorsement of our youth and the future of Nigeria.” Dr. Raji added, “You, the innovators, are living proof that Nigeria’s greatest asset is not oil – it is human ingenuity.” The exhibition served as a powerful reminder of the potential of innovation to transform Nigeria’s economy and society, and the government’s commitment to supporting and promoting homegrown innovation.