The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), in partnership with AfriLabs, has launched the Innovate Naija challenge to identify, fund and scale local inventions across Nigeria.
The challenge, which has a total cash prize of N237.50 million, was announced by Anas Balarabe Yazid, special adviser on commercialisation to the executive vice-chairman of NASENI, on Thursday, at the GITAX Nigeria Startup Festival 2025.
Speaking at the launch, Balarabe said the initiative is designed to “find, fund and fast-track the best home-grown products into solutions that work locally and can scale globally.”
“If you’ve built something that works, even if it’s rough around the edges, this stage is for you,” Yazid said.
“Apply from any of the 36 states and the FCT. Submit online and post on social media tagging @NASENIhub and @NASENIHQ.
“We’ll shortlist five innovations per state and the FCT. The public then votes for 37 state winners. From there, 15 finalists pitch live at the NASENI Invention Festival.
“Prizes: N100 million for the overall winner to commercialise; N30 million for first runner-up; N20 million for second; and N2.5 million each for the other 35 state winners.”
He said winners will also be admitted into the NASENI innovation hub incubation programme, with access to the agency’s 12 institutes and the centre of excellence in Abuja, offering machinery, labs, and manufacturing support.
Yazid said governors and the FCT minister have been invited to match NASENI’s support for winners from their states to ensure that “the seed planted here can grow right at home”.
“Build here, sell to the world; innovation lives in every LGA — let’s give it a lift; with the right support, Nigerian ingenuity becomes Nigerian industry,” he said.
The special adviser also commended Khalil Suleiman Halilu, executive vice-chairman of NASENI, describing his leadership as “practical, inclusive, and brave — funding what works, elevating women innovators, and opening NASENI’s doors to everyone who can build.”
The Cable
