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- The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure has launched the Innovate Naija Challenge, in partnership with AfriLabs
- The programme aims to support homegrown innovators with startup funds to scale their operations
- The organisers said the scheme was designed to find, fund and fast-track the best home-grown products into global solutions
Legit.ng’s Pascal Oparada has reported on tech, energy, stocks, investment and the economy for over a decade.
The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), in partnership with AfriLabs, has launched the Innovate Naija Challenge — a ₦250 million initiative aimed at supporting homegrown innovators.
The announcement was made at the GITAX Nigeria Startup Festival 2025 by Anas Balarabe Yazid, special adviser on commercialisation to NASENI’s executive vice-chairman.
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Nationwide search for solutions
Yazid said the challenge is designed to “find, fund and fast-track the best home-grown products into solutions that work locally and can scale globally.” He added that the competition reflects NASENI’s renewed drive to transform grassroots creativity into viable enterprises.
Applications are open to Nigerians from all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Interested innovators are required to submit their entries online and post them on social media, tagging @NASENIhub and @NASENIHQ.
Five innovations will be shortlisted per state, before the public votes to select 37 state-level winners. From there, 15 finalists will pitch their ideas live at the NASENI Invention Festival.
“This stage is for anyone who has built something that works, even if it’s rough around the edges,” Yazid said.
Beyond prize money: Access to labs and manufacturing
Winners of the Innovate Naija challenge will not only share the ₦250 million cash prize but also gain access to NASENI’s innovation hub incubation programme.
This includes mentorship, technical support, and entry into NASENI’s 12 specialised institutes and its Centre of Excellence in Abuja, which provides machinery, laboratories, and advanced manufacturing infrastructure.
According to Yazid, state governors and the FCT minister have been invited to match NASENI’s funding for their state winners, ensuring that “the seed planted here can grow right at home.”
Building local, selling global
The challenge underscores NASENI’s vision of turning Nigerian creativity into globally competitive enterprises. “Build here, sell to the world; innovation lives in every LGA — let’s give it a lift. With the right support, Nigerian ingenuity becomes Nigerian industry,” Yazid declared.
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The agency is particularly keen on solutions that address local challenges in sectors like agriculture, renewable energy, health tech, and digital services.
Leadership and inclusivity
Yazid praised Khalil Suleiman Halilu, the executive vice-chairman of NASENI, for his leadership style, which he described as “practical, inclusive, and brave.”
He said Halilu has prioritised funding viable projects, empowering women innovators, and opening NASENI’s doors to all Nigerians capable of building solutions.
A Platform for homegrown growth
The Innovate Naija challenge is expected to generate a wave of grassroots inventions and give visibility to innovators who have often lacked access to financing or infrastructure.
By creating a pipeline from local creativity to national recognition and global markets, NASENI and AfriLabs hope to position Nigeria as a hub of innovation in Africa.
For inventors across the country, the message is clear: your ideas now have a platform to thrive.
The scheme comes alongside other initiatives such as the federal government’s offer of a N50,000 grant to nano businesses to scale their operations.
The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) has launched a series of strategic schemes to support entrepreneurs, drive economic growth and boost the capacities of MSMEs nationwide.
The SMEDAN Conditional Grant Scheme for Micro Enterprises is targeted at nano and small businesses.
Google opens 2026 internship applications
Legit.ng previously reported that global technology giant, Google, has officially opened applications for its 2026 internship programme, offering young Nigerians a rare chance to earn stipends of up to $3,000 (about ₦4.8 million) monthly while gaining hands-on experience with one of the world’s most valuable companies.
The programme, which runs between three to six months, is open to both undergraduates and graduates across a wide range of technical and analytical fields.
Google has outlined specific academic backgrounds for eligibility. Interested applicants must currently be enrolled in or pursuing a Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD degree.
Source: Legit.ng
