Stakeholders unite to turn Nigerian innovation into wealth and jobs.

The National Policy Advocacy Centre (NPAC) of the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) has brought together major stakeholders in Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem to develop strategies for commercialising research and innovation as a pathway to sustainable industrial growth and economic transformation.

The webinar, themed “From Lab to Market: Driving Nigeria’s Industrial Transformation through Research Commercialization,” attracted policymakers, researchers, academics, government agencies, manufacturers, financial institutions, innovators, development partners and private sector leaders. Discussions focused on practical ways of converting research findings into commercially viable products and services capable of creating jobs, attracting investment and boosting Nigeria’s industrial competitiveness.
Declaring the event open, the 2nd Deputy President of ACCI and Chairman of NPAC, Dr. Aliyu Idi Hong, noted that despite Nigeria’s abundant research talent and innovative potential, the country still faces a significant gap between research discoveries and commercial application. He stressed the need for stronger collaboration among government, academia, industry, investors and development partners to build an innovation ecosystem that supports technology transfer, protects intellectual property, mobilises investment and scales indigenous innovations for national development.
Delivering the keynote address on behalf of the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI), Engr. Dr. Kazeem Kolawole Raji, the Director of Procurement, Mr. Tukura Zakaria, said Nigeria’s economic prosperity depends on its ability to transform research into market-ready products and thriving enterprises.
He described technology incubation as the vital link between research and industry, providing mentorship, business support, market access and strategic partnerships that enable innovators to commercialise their ideas. He also highlighted NBTI’s ongoing efforts to promote indigenous innovation through its nationwide Technology Incubation Centres and youth-focused entrepreneurship programmes.
Dr. Raji called for increased investment in technology incubation, easier access to finance, stronger intellectual property protection and greater support for young innovators. According to him, these measures will position “Made in Nigeria” as a globally competitive brand known for quality and innovation.
In a welcome address delivered on behalf of the Director General of ACCI, Mr. Agabaidu Jideani, the Executive Director of NPAC, Dr. Chidiebere Onwumere, reaffirmed the Chamber’s commitment to promoting private sector-led industrialisation through evidence-based policy advocacy and strategic partnerships. He explained that the webinar forms part of ACCI’s broader initiative to strengthen collaboration between industry and research institutions while laying the foundation for the proposed National Forum on Commercialising Research and Innovation for Sustainable Industrial Growth.
The webinar featured presentations and panel discussions involving representatives of the National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI), National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP), Bank of Industry (BOI), Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), African University of Science and Technology (AUST), as well as other research institutions and innovation stakeholders.
Participants emphasised the urgent need to align academic research with industry priorities, strengthen technology transfer systems, improve access to innovation financing and establish institutional frameworks that reward research commercialisation alongside academic publications. They identified weak collaboration between industry and researchers, inadequate funding, fragmented innovation ecosystems, limited commercialisation incentives and insufficient intellectual property protection as major barriers to translating research into market-ready solutions.
Stakeholders called for stronger partnerships among universities, research institutes, manufacturers, government agencies, investors and development partners to develop commercially viable innovations capable of creating jobs, reducing import dependence and enhancing Nigeria’s global competitiveness. They also advocated clear institutional intellectual property policies, expanded incubation and technology transfer platforms, increased private sector participation in setting research priorities and stronger financing mechanisms for innovation-driven enterprises.
The National Board for Technology Incubation announced its forthcoming NextGen Innovation Showcase scheduled for August 6, 2026, while the Bank of Industry reaffirmed its commitment to supporting strategic partnerships that promote innovation-led industrial development.
At the end of the webinar, participants resolved to sustain the momentum through broader stakeholder engagement. Dr. Hong announced plans for NPAC to convene a national forum involving research institutions, universities, government agencies, manufacturers, investors and development partners to develop a coordinated roadmap for research commercialisation. He also directed the NPAC Secretariat to prepare a comprehensive report capturing the webinar’s key deliberations and recommendations to guide future policy advocacy and implementation.
The webinar ended with a renewed commitment by stakeholders to transform Nigerian research into wealth-creating enterprises, deepen collaboration between industry and academia, and position innovation as a key driver of sustainable industrialisation, economic diversification and inclusive national development.