The Federal Government on Thursday launched the Energise Commercialisation Now(ECoN) initiative in Kano, aimed at transforming Nigeria’s research outputs and innovations into market-driven enterprises and economic value.
The initiative is a clear testament to the Federal Government’s unwavering commitment to reposition science, technology and innovation as the backbone of the President’s drive towards actualising a one trillion U.S. dollar GDP economy.
Speaking at the event in Kano, the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr Kingsley Tochukwu-Udeh, said the initiative was designed to bridge the long-standing gap between knowledge creation and commercialisation in the country.
He described ECoN as a national framework to convert ideas into impact, research into revenue and innovation into inclusive prosperity.
“To ignite a movement that will redefine how Nigeria translates ideas into impact, research into revenue and innovation into inclusive prosperity is at the heart of this initiative,” he said.
The minister noted that Nigeria had, over the decades, produced groundbreaking research and talented innovators, but many of such outputs remained trapped in laboratories due to lack of access to markets and financing.
According to him, ECoN will provide a comprehensive and sustainable solution aligned with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to reposition science, technology and innovation as drivers of economic growth.
He said the initiative would be deployed across all geopolitical zones to build a national innovation ecosystem, foster inter-state collaboration and promote healthy competition.
Tochukwu-Udeh added that ECoN would leverage partnerships with global organisations such as the World Intellectual Property Organisation to ensure Nigerian innovations meet international standards.
He explained that the programme would feature technical sessions, investor-ready presentations and “deal rooms” to facilitate real-time negotiations between innovators and investors.
“In less than a month, we have received over 1,000 entries and identified high-potential innovations across priority sectors, with early-stage investment commitments already secured,” he said.
He further disclosed that the Federal Government was working towards establishing a National Research and Innovation Fund to ensure sustainable financing and support for innovation commercialisation.
In her remarks, the First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, who officially launched the initiative, said Nigeria must move from being a nation of ideas to a nation of industries.
Tinubu said the country was rich in creativity, with innovative ideas emerging daily from universities, hubs and young entrepreneurs, but noted that many fail to translate into real-world solutions.
“This initiative is a bold step towards bridging that gap by creating an enabling environment where ideas are nurtured, supported and scaled,” she said.
She added that the programme would drive job creation, economic diversification and global competitiveness through effective commercialisation of innovation.
Gov. Abba Kabir-Yusuf of Kano State described the initiative as a strategic intervention to connect research outputs with industry and markets.
He said Kano was honoured to host the national launch and North-West deployment of the programme, noting that the state remained committed to innovation-driven development.
According to him, the initiative aligns with the federal government’s Renewed Hope agenda, which focuses on industrial growth, youth empowerment, and economic productivity.
Kabir-Yusuf said the state government had strengthened digital governance, expanded ICT infrastructure and revitalised science and technical education to support innovation.
Also speaking, Gov. Umar Namadi of Jigawa pledged the commitment of North-West governors to the success of the initiative.
He said Jigawa planned to establish a technology village to nurture innovation and attract investors.
NAN reports that the event was attended by governors, government officials, Sen Barau Jibrin, Rep. Alhassan Ado-Doguwa, traditional rulers, first ladies of the North-West states, business leaders and representatives of CSOs among others.
NAN
