The Federal Government has unveiled the Tinubu Light Initiative, TLI, and the National Showcase of the NextGen Innovation Challenge 2026 to promote indigenous innovation, renewable energy and entrepreneurship as drivers of economic growth.
The Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr Kingsley Udeh, said the initiatives aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and demonstrated the administration’s commitment to innovation-driven industrialization and economic transformation.
Udeh, who was represented by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr Mukhtar Muhammad, said the NextGen Innovation Challenge was designed to identify, nurture and commercialize indigenous technologies, while the TLI would provide affordable renewable energy solutions to MSMEs.
According to him, the TLI is expected to reduce operating costs for businesses, create more than 50,000 direct jobs, accelerate financial inclusion and strengthen Nigeria’s productive economy.
“Nigeria is exceptionally blessed. We have one of the youngest populations in the world. We have world-class researchers. We have vibrant universities. “We have outstanding technology hubs. We have resilient entrepreneurs.
“Above all, we have millions of young Nigerians whose creativity can transform not only our nation but also the African continent. “Our responsibility as government is to build an ecosystem where innovation thrives,” he said.
The minister said the government would continue to create an enabling environment for innovation, technology transfer, industrial competitiveness and enterprise development.
He commended the National Board for Technology Incubation, NBTI, for building a national innovation ecosystem capable of transforming research into commercially viable enterprises.
“The future wealth of nations will increasingly be determined by ideas, innovation, technology and entrepreneurship.
“We must ensure that research moves beyond laboratories, ideas become products, products become businesses and businesses become industries that create jobs and prosperity,” he said.
Earlier, the Director-General of NBTI, Dr Kazeem Raji, said the NextGen Innovation Challenge had evolved into one of Africa’s leading innovation platforms.
Raji said the initiative had attracted thousands of applications from innovators across the country and secured strategic partnerships to support technology commercialization and enterprise development.
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He said several innovations from previous editions had progressed towards commercialization, with some already attracting local and international investment.
According to him, the TLI represents a practical intervention to address the energy challenges facing MSMEs through affordable renewable energy solutions.
He said the programme would reduce dependence on fossil-fuel generators, lower production costs, improve productivity and stimulate inclusive economic growth.
“Young people from our universities, research institutions, technology hubs, manufacturing clusters and entrepreneurial communities demonstrated beyond doubt Nigeria possesses world-class talent waiting only for the right platform to flourish.
“Today, many of the innovations emerging from this initiative are no longer concepts confined to laboratories or research papers.
“They are solving problems. They are creating jobs. They are attracting investors. They are improving livelihoods. They are contributing to national development,” he said.
Raji added that the initiative would strengthen local manufacturing of renewable energy equipment, promote clean energy adoption and support Nigeria’s transition to a green economy.
Also speaking, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Niger Delta Basin Development Authority, Dr Ebitimi Amgbare, said the TLI would provide reliable electricity to millions of small businesses, enabling them to increase production, reduce costs and improve their incomes.
He said the programme would positively impact traders, artisans, farmers, cybercafé operators, pharmacists, fashion designers and other small business operators whose productivity had been constrained by unreliable power supply.
The lawmaker said conservative projections indicated that the initiative could stimulate more than N172 billion in economic activity annually through improved productivity and business expansion.
Faleke pledged the National Assembly’s support for policies that would promote innovation, renewable energy, entrepreneurship and technology-driven economic development in the country.
More than 3,000 applications were received for the innovation challenge, with 298 finalists selected for the final showcase from the 36 states of the country.
NAN
