Nigeria’s National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) has unveiled the InnovateNaija Challenge, a ₦250 million innovation programme aimed at supporting young inventors with funding, mentorship, and access to technology hubs. The initiative will be officially launched on Thursday, September 4, during the GITEX Nigeria technology fair in Lagos.
Designed to spotlight breakthrough ideas in science, engineering, and manufacturing, the programme is backed by AfriLabs and the Presidency, with organisers describing it as Nigeria’s largest youth-focused innovation competition.
The challenge will run for three months and will feature two phases. In the first stage, one innovator will be selected from each of Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, making a total of 37 winners. Each of these innovators will receive a ₦2.5 million grant to support the development of their ideas.
From this pool, the top 15 will qualify for the national finals scheduled to take place at the NASENI Invention Fest in Abuja in February 2026.
At the grand finale, the finalists will present their projects to a panel of judges, investors, and key stakeholders, with the overall winner receiving a ₦100 million grant to scale their innovation.
NASENI officials say the competition forms part of a wider strategy to strengthen Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem and foster youth-driven solutions to national challenges. It coincides with the pre-launch of the NASENI Innovation Hub in Abuja, which will provide state-of-the-art infrastructure, mentorship programmes, and research opportunities for young inventors.
NASENI’s Executive Vice Chairman, Khalil Halilu, said the challenge reflects a deliberate effort to “foster an environment where innovation can thrive” and transform creative ideas into scalable, impactful solutions.
Nigeria has long sought to diversify its economy beyond oil by investing heavily in manufacturing, technology, and engineering. NASENI said the InnovateNaija Challenge represents a significant step toward youth empowerment while also strengthening the country’s reputation for creativity, ingenuity, and entrepreneurship.
AfriLabs Executive Director Anna Ekeledo added that the initiative would “spotlight Nigerian ingenuity” and deepen the country’s integration into Africa’s growing innovation network.
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