Young Nigerians with new solutions to local challenges are set to showcase their work this December as the Young Africa Innovates Programme hosts State Showcases across seven locations including Lagos, Anambra, Kaduna, Kwara, Ekiti, Akwa Ibom and Borno. The initiative is backed by the Mastercard Foundation and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
According to organisers, the programme began earlier in the year with more than 9,000 applications from youth-led teams nationwide. These were filtered to 1,348 participants who attended bootcamps designed to improve their ideas and introduce business and impact tools. From that group, 205 innovators were selected for further incubation at the Stage Gating phase.
UNDP explained that the Stage Gating period has exposed participants to residency workshops, mentorship and learning circles. During this stage, the innovators developed basic versions of their solutions, reviewed business strategies and built networks to improve market access.
The upcoming State Showcases will feature exhibitions, pitches and policy discussions. Exhibition booths will allow innovators to present their solutions directly to invited guests including investors, government officials and industry actors. Some participants will also pitch their ideas, target markets and intended impact to potential supporters.
Organisers noted that the events are expected to generate awareness of youth-led innovation, attract partnerships and investment opportunities and promote inclusion, particularly for women and persons with disabilities. Media platforms across TV, radio and online outlets will cover the Showcases, highlighting stories of young Nigerians addressing pressing problems.
Programme leads described the initiative as a deliberate effort to broaden who participates in national innovation spaces. They stressed that the inclusion of underserved communities demonstrates that talent exists everywhere and must be supported. The State Showcases, they said, signal recognition for young innovators and a commitment to helping their solutions grow.
