InovateNaija: NASENI Unveils ₦250m Innovation Challenge to Empower Young Nigerian Innovators

InnovateNaija, Nigeria’s biggest innovation challenge, has officially been launched by the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) with a ₦250 million prize pool aimed at empowering homegrown inventors in science, engineering, and manufacturing.

The initiative, backed by the Presidency, the NASENI Innovation Hub, and AfriLabs, was unveiled on Thursday, September 4, 2025, at the GITEX Nigeria 10x Stage, Landmark Event Centre, Lagos. It is designed to inspire and showcase the nation’s brightest minds while accelerating Nigeria’s technological growth.

Under the scheme, 37 winners — one from each of the 36 states and the FCT — will emerge through public voting in the first phase of the competition. Each will receive a ₦2.5 million grant to further develop their ideas. From this pool, 15 finalists will qualify for the grand finale at the NASENI Invention Fest in Abuja, February 2026, where they will pitch before expert judges and stakeholders. The overall winner will receive a ₦100 million grant to scale their innovation.

The launch also featured the pre-launch of the NASENI Innovation Hub in Abuja, a facility created to provide infrastructure, mentorship, funding, and capacity-building support for Nigerian innovators. The Hub will serve as a breeding ground for transformative solutions that address the nation’s challenges and create market-ready products.

Speaking at the launch, NASENI’s Executive Vice Chairman/CEO, Khalil Sulaiman Halilu, described InnovateNaija as a catalyst for the country’s innovation ecosystem.

> “The InnovateNaija Challenge is an incredible opportunity, offering funding to 37 outstanding youths to bring their ideas to life. The NASENI Innovation Hub will nurture these sparks into scalable solutions, advancing Nigeria’s technological capabilities,” Halilu said.

AfriLabs’ Executive Director, Anna Ekeledo, noted that the initiative aligns with Africa’s innovation drive.

> “By empowering innovators across all states in Nigeria, this competition not only fuels creativity but also strengthens the innovation ecosystem. We are excited to support NASENI in spotlighting Nigerian ingenuity,” she said.

The three-month competition is expected to generate massive participation across the country and position Nigeria as a continental hub for grassroots innovation.