Nigeria’s Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Geoffrey Nnaji, has announced a new step toward advancing the country’s research and innovation capacity through the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Research and Innovation (IMC–RI).
Speaking at a diplomatic briefing, Nnaji described the IMC–RI as “a strategic platform bringing together key ministries under the leadership of the Vice President to coordinate our nation’s research and innovation priorities.”
According to the minister, the initiative is essential in an era of rapid technological change and a highly competitive knowledge economy. “No nation can thrive in isolation,” he said, adding that the IMC–RI will unify efforts, optimise resources, and promote cross-sector collaboration to turn research into tangible economic, social, and environmental results.
Nnaji outlined the committee’s focus areas, identifying five priority sectors that he said hold the greatest potential for national transformation:
i. Agriculture & Climate Resilience
ii. Manufacturing Excellence
iii. Energy Security
iv. Healthcare Innovation
v. Natural Resources Optimization
The minister also called for stronger partnerships with the diplomatic community and international stakeholders. “I extended an open hand of partnership to our diplomatic friends and international partners — to jointly invest in technical cooperation, STEM capacity building, innovation hubs, and shared research infrastructure,” he stated.
He emphasized that the IMC–RI is not just a government plan but an open invitation to collaborate.
“This is more than a government initiative; it is an invitation to co-create the future. Together, we can build an innovation-driven economy that advances not only Nigeria’s prosperity but also our shared global progress,” Nnaji concluded.