The Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI), Dr. Kazeem Kolawole Raji, has officially unveiled the NEXTGEN Innovation Challenge 2026, a national platform designed to accelerate technology-driven entrepreneurship and attract global investment into Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, Raji described NEXTGEN 2026 as a defining initiative aimed at mobilising investment, accelerating innovation, and positioning Nigeria as Africa’s undisputed innovation powerhouse. He emphasised that the programme is not a competition but a national development catalyst and a global innovation diplomacy platform.
Raji commended President Bola Tinubu for his administration’s economic reforms and Nigeria First Policy, noting that innovation has been repositioned as a central pillar of national development. He said Tinubu’s reforms, which frame innovation as “the new oil,” have redefined Nigeria’s development architecture and placed the country on a strategic path toward a knowledge-driven economy powered by intellectual capital and technological advancement.
Organised by NBTI in partnership with UK-based consultancy firm UKALD, NEXTGEN 2026 aims to connect Nigerian innovators with global investors, development finance institutions, governments, multilateral agencies, and private sector partners. Innovation boot camps will begin in Abuja, while the grand finale is scheduled for October 2026 at the ExCeL Centre in London, United Kingdom.
“The programme is designed to move innovators from laboratories to livelihoods, from prototypes to products, and from ideas to commercial success,” Raji explained. He added that international editions would also be held in Doha, Qatar, targeting Middle East investors and sovereign wealth funds, and in London, which will serve as the global flagship showcase.
NEXTGEN 2026 will prioritise high-impact sectors including artificial intelligence and robotics, advanced semiconductors, telecommunications with 6G and AI integration, green and renewable energy, climate resilience and flood detection systems, agri-tech, health-tech, edu-tech, women in tech and gender-inclusive innovation, as well as virtual reality and 3D manufacturing.
According to Raji, these sectors align with Nigeria’s national development priorities and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He stressed that the initiative would serve as a launchpad for Nigerian innovators to access global markets, attract investment, and contribute meaningfully to national growth.
By Olugbenga Salami, Abuja
