The Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to ensuring that research and innovation developed in Nigeria are transformed into products, businesses and jobs that can contribute directly to economic growth.
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Speaking at the Plateau State Science, Technology and Innovation Festival (PLASSTIFEST) 2026 in Jos, the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr. Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh, SAN, said Nigeria must move beyond a system where research findings remain in laboratories and academic journals without creating measurable economic value.
According to the Minister, Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) will play a central role in achieving President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and supporting Nigeria’s ambition of building a $1 trillion economy.
Dr. Udeh said the Federal Government is placing greater emphasis on research commercialization, with a focus on ensuring that innovations developed by researchers, universities and other institutions are converted into market-ready products and services capable of generating wealth, creating jobs and addressing real-world challenges.
“We must move beyond the era where valuable research outcomes remain confined to laboratories and academic journals without creating tangible economic impact,” he said.
The Minister explained that the government’s innovation strategy is guided by the National Science, Technology and Innovation Policy 2022, which aims to accelerate Nigeria’s transition from a resource-dependent economy to a knowledge-based economy driven by innovation, entrepreneurship, digital transformation and technological advancement.
He noted that the policy aligns with Nigeria Agenda 2050 and positions science and innovation as key drivers of economic growth, food security, job creation and national competitiveness.
A major component of the government’s commercialization drive is the Energize Commercialization Now (ECoN) Initiative, described by the Minister as the Federal Government’s flagship programme for moving innovations from laboratories to the marketplace.
According to him, the initiative is designed to identify commercially viable innovations, connect innovators with investors and industry players, strengthen intellectual property management and support incubation and scale-up opportunities for emerging technologies and businesses.
Dr. Udeh said ECoN is expected to serve as a national platform that brings together state governments, universities, research institutions and private sector stakeholders to strengthen collaboration within Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem.
The initiative comes at a time when policymakers are increasingly seeking ways to improve the commercial value of research outputs across the country. While Nigerian universities and research institutions continue to produce significant volumes of research, only a small percentage of those innovations progress to commercialization or attract investment.
The Minister said addressing this gap remains a priority for the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology (FMIST), adding that stronger linkages between researchers, industry and investors will be critical to achieving long-term results.
He also disclosed that the Ministry is working towards the establishment of the National Research and Innovation Development Fund (NRIDF), a financing mechanism designed to provide sustainable support for research, innovation, prototyping and commercialization activities.
According to Dr. Udeh, countries that have built strong innovation-driven economies typically rely on dedicated funding structures to support research and development, and Nigeria is taking steps to create similar institutional frameworks.
The proposed fund is expected to provide additional resources for innovators and researchers seeking to develop ideas into commercially viable products and enterprises.
Beyond federal-level interventions, the Minister called on state governments to create enabling structures that can support innovation-led development within their respective jurisdictions.
He encouraged states to establish Innovation Councils, Research Commercialization Offices, Innovation Funds and Technology Transfer Platforms that can help accelerate the movement of ideas from research institutions into the broader economy.
Dr. Udeh noted that stronger collaboration between government, academia, industry and development partners would be necessary to bridge existing gaps between research and commercial application.
He said such partnerships would not only improve innovation outcomes but also create new pathways for investment, entrepreneurship and employment generation.
The Minister also reaffirmed FMIST’s readiness to work with state governments across the country to deepen research commercialization efforts and strengthen innovation ecosystems.
As Nigeria pursues its economic diversification agenda, the Federal Government’s latest position signals a growing focus on turning locally developed research and innovation into tangible economic assets capable of supporting industrial growth, business creation and sustainable job opportunities.
