Nnaji highlights Tinubu’s strides in energy, innovation, jobs in 2 years

Chief Uche Nnaji, Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, has applauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for steering Nigeria into a new era of science and innovation-led development within the past two years.

The Minister in a statement signed by his
Senior Special Adviser (Administration) Dr Robert Ngwu, on Sunday in Abuja, described the Tinubu administration as a “powerhouse of progress”.

He cited milestone achievements across clean energy, digital innovation, healthcare, security, agriculture, and job creation.

“One of the administration’s flagship initiatives is the Renewed Hope Solarisation Project—a first-of-its-kind energy gift to Nigeria’s tertiary institutions and federal teaching hospitals.

“Under this initiative, each of the 36 states and the FCT will receive a 2MW solar hybrid power system, targeting one federal university and one federal teaching hospital per state.

“This pilot phase offers eco-friendly, reliable electricity to institutions long burdened by erratic power and rising utility costs,” Nnaji stated. “It is a beacon of hope and a foundation for national rollout.”

Nnaji said the ministry was also advancing the Sustainable Energy Access Project (SEAP)—a nationwide clean energy and clean cooking initiative covering all 774 local governments.

He said the full-scale implementation was projected to create nearly one million jobs, with a strong focus on youth, women, and artisans—echoing the Renewed Hope Agenda’s commitment to inclusive development.

The ster said that in the domain of space technology, Tinubu approved the unveiling of four new satellites—NigeriaSat-3, Sat-4, Sat-5, and NigeriaSAR-1—under the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA).

“These assets will bolster national security, disaster response, border surveillance, agriculture, and geospatial land administration.

“Another milestone is the formulation and national validation of Nigeria’s first Cleantech Innovation Policy, developed through the National Cleantech Innovation Programme (NCIP) with support from international partners.

“The policy aims to fast-track Nigeria’s green industrial revolution, climate resilience, and economic diversification.

“Its full implementation is expected to generate over 500,000 direct and indirect jobs in sectors such as agritech, renewable energy, circular economy, green transportation, and smart manufacturing.”

According to him, there is special emphasis on empowering women, youth, and persons with disabilities, through inclusive funding, training platforms, and national mentorship schemes.

Nnaji said to reduce Nigeria’s overreliance on raw material exports and curb the costly dependence on imported finished goods, the ministry had proposed the 30 per cent Minimum Value-Addition Bill.

“This pioneering legislation mandates that at least 30% of local value must be added to raw materials before they are exported or utilised in industrial production.

“As part of the ministry’s industrialisation strategy, the revival and optimisation of the cassava value chain has become a strategic national priority.

“Leveraging Nigeria’s comparative advantage as one of the world’s largest producers of cassava, the Ministry is facilitating the deployment of mechanised and semi-automated processing systems to enhance value addition, reduce post-harvest losses, and create high-impact jobs across rural communities,” he said.

According to him, a 7.9 euros billion Green and Blue Methanol Industrial Complex is in the works to deliver decarbonizlsation in blue economy, and low-carbon fuels, reinforcing Nigeria’s leadership in Africa’s clean energy transition.