The Federal Government has taken 298 Nigerian innovators from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory to London, United Kingdom, to attract global investors, commercialise indigenous technologies and expand local businesses into international markets.

The innovators participated in the 2026 NextGen Innovation Challenge international grand finale, which brought together entrepreneurs, investors, government officials, diplomatic representatives and other stakeholders to explore opportunities for investment, technology development and international business partnerships.

Speaking at the event, the Director-General of the National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI) said the initiative was aimed at connecting Nigerian innovators with international investors and creating opportunities to transform locally developed ideas into commercially viable products and businesses.

He said innovation, entrepreneurship and technology commercialisation were essential to Nigeria’s ambition of building a one-trillion-dollar economy, stressing that the country could not depend solely on government spending and natural resources to achieve the target.

“A one-trillion-dollar economy cannot be built by government alone. It must be built by Nigerians who innovate, Nigerians who manufacture, Nigerians who invest, Nigerians who create intellectual property, Nigerians who build enterprises, and Nigerians who compete successfully in the global markets,” he said.

The NBTI chief disclosed that the number of Nigerian innovators participating in the London showcase had increased from 105 at the previous edition to 298 this year.

According to him, the programme was designed to bridge the gap between innovation and commercial opportunities by linking entrepreneurs with investors, business partners and international markets.

He said the initiative was expected to help move indigenous research and technologies beyond prototypes to marketable products, sustainable businesses, employment generation and economic growth.

The Director-General commended the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Nigerian High Commission in the United Kingdom, the British High Commission and strategic partner UKALD for supporting the initiative.

He also praised NBTI staff and technology incubation centre managers across the country for identifying, mentoring and supporting innovators.

He said the programme’s impact would ultimately be measured by the businesses established, technologies commercialised, investments secured, jobs created and lives improved.

“Today is a celebration, but tomorrow is the real test,” he said, urging participants to build sustainable enterprises, commercialise their innovations, scale their operations and establish partnerships that would enable them to compete in global markets.

In a keynote address delivered on behalf of Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Ambassador Aminu Dalhatu, Ambassador Abu Obey Eche described the showcase as an opportunity to present the country’s innovation potential to international investors and business partners.

Eche said London’s position as a major centre for finance, technology, research and enterprise provided a suitable platform for Nigerian innovators to access global capital and explore international business opportunities.

“Diplomacy today must go beyond governments speaking to governments. It must also connect businesses to markets, innovators to investors, researchers to institutions, and Nigerian opportunities to global capital,” he said.

He said the Nigerian High Commission was committed to strengthening relationships that would enable local innovators to access international opportunities.

The envoy also urged Nigerians in the diaspora to support emerging entrepreneurs with their expertise, financial resources and knowledge of international markets.

He commended the Federal Government, NBTI and UKALD for creating a platform that connects grassroots innovators with potential global partners.

Eche further identified the possibility of extending the NextGen Innovation Challenge to other Commonwealth countries as an opportunity to expand international collaboration and strengthen Nigeria’s contribution to global innovation and enterprise.

An investor, Ms Erin Grover, expressed interest in investing in at least one of the women entrepreneurs she met at the showcase, describing some of the innovations presented as inspiring.

Grover, who said she had worked with startups and nonprofit organisations across Africa and Asia, said she was particularly impressed by the ideas developed by women entrepreneurs.

“I think there are some inspiring women here especially who I’ve been able to speak with today, and I definitely hope to invest in at least one of them coming out of this event,” she said.

Drawing on her experience as an entrepreneur, she urged participants to remain persistent, learn from mistakes, and continue pursuing their business goals despite the challenges associated with building enterprises.

“My one piece of unsolicited advice is to just never give up ever, be persistent as hell, keep going,” she said.

Grover also encouraged the innovators to maintain strong support networks and remain focused on their objectives, stressing the importance of sustained commitment to business development.

The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress in the United Kingdom and Executive Director of UKALD, Hon. Tunde Doherty, described the event as an opportunity to expose Nigerian innovations to international investors and demonstrate their commercial potential.

Doherty urged investors to consider Nigeria as a destination for technology and enterprise investment, citing the country’s human resources and capacity to develop solutions for local and international markets.

He commended NBTI for expanding the programme and providing more Nigerian entrepreneurs with opportunities to engage investors and potential business partners in the United Kingdom.

He expressed optimism that sustained collaboration among entrepreneurs, investors and institutional partners would help transform more Nigerian ideas into commercially successful businesses.

The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr Mukhtar Muhammad, also commended NBTI for expanding the showcase and creating opportunities for young Nigerians to develop practical solutions to societal challenges.

Muhammad said innovation was not limited to academic qualifications but involved identifying problems and developing workable solutions.

“If there is a problem in the society and you identify that problem and you try to solve it, you are making more impact to the society than someone who is doing several degrees in university,” he said.

He pledged increased support from the ministry for the initiative in the coming year and proposed that states could establish their own processes for identifying promising innovators.

According to him, such an approach would encourage competition, widen opportunities for young entrepreneurs and help identify more technologies capable of addressing the country’s development challenges.

Muhammad also commended the participants for their persistence and hard work, noting that developing original solutions often required sustained effort and repeated attempts.

The event featured contributions from government officials, investors, diplomatic representatives and other stakeholders seeking to strengthen Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem.

The NBTI Director-General acknowledged the contributions of the programme’s judges, researchers, technical teams and international partners, particularly UKALD, in connecting Nigerian innovators with investment opportunities.

The 2026 showcase builds on the previous edition, which brought 105 Nigerian innovators to London. The increase to 298 participants this year reflects the programme’s expansion and its focus on connecting local talent with international markets.

The organisers said the ultimate objective was to ensure that the initiative produced tangible economic benefits through investment deals, commercial partnerships, job creation and increased access to global markets for Nigerian innovations. (Nigerian Tribune)