The Federal Government has officially deployed the NASENI FutureMakers Initiative across its nationwide institutes as part of efforts to position Nigeria as a global technological hub.
The programme was unveiled by the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure, Khalil Suleiman Halilu, and is designed to identify and empower young innovators between the ages of five and 16.
This was disclosed in a statement issued by the Statehouse on Wednesday, which noted that the initiative will leverage NASENI’s specialised infrastructure to strengthen early engagement in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).
According to the statement, the programme aims to raise a new generation of problem-solvers capable of addressing modern challenges through early and deliberate investment in innovation-focused learning.
Speaking during the launch, Halilu said Nigeria’s future prosperity depends largely on how effectively it develops the minds of its youngest citizens.
“Today, we take another step toward securing Nigeria’s long-term innovation future. Early exposure creates lifelong innovators, and Nigeria is joining that league through FutureMakers by NASENI,” he stated.
He explained that the initiative draws inspiration from global models such as the United States’ FIRST Robotics and India’s Atal Innovation Mission, which focus on building technical confidence in children.
According to him, the goal is to help young Nigerians move from being consumers of technology to becoming creators who can design solutions relevant to their environment.
The initiative will be implemented through NASENI’s development institutes spread across all six geopolitical zones of the country, ensuring national coverage and access for children regardless of location.
Halilu stressed that the wide reach of the programme is essential for inclusion, adding, “This is our way of securing Nigeria’s innovation stability over the next 30 to 50 years. We are creating a cycle where a child’s curiosity today becomes Nigeria’s gratitude tomorrow.”
He added that participants will receive hands-on training in engineering basics, robotics, and design thinking, offering practical skills that go beyond conventional classroom teaching.
The Special Adviser to the EVC on Commercialisation and Efficiency, Anas Balarabe Yazid, said the programme is built on recognising talent early, even before formal achievements are recorded.
“It is about something deeper: believing in our children before the world has fully seen them, investing in their talent before their CV exists, and creating an experience that will stay with them for life—the moment they realised they can build things and solve real problems,” he said.
This approach, he noted, reflects a broader government shift toward long-term human capital development as a foundation for sustainable national growth.
As the initiative enters its implementation phase, it will feature zonal hackathons across the country, followed by a national finale scheduled for February 2026.
Outstanding participants are expected to receive prizes including scholarships to top Nigerian universities and international study tours aimed at exposing them to global technology ecosystems.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on NASENI, Francis Ezenwa Onyewuchi, called for widespread support for the programme.
“As we launch FutureMakers, let us renew our collective commitment to building a nation where creativity is elevated, ideas are supported, and the potential of every child is allowed to thrive. Innovation begins the moment a child is empowered to imagine,” he said.
The development aligns with the National Youth Innovation Report, which places the initiative within the context of NASENI’s recent establishment of 12 institutes to promote industrial growth across Nigeria.
