The Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology (STI), Dr Kingsley Udeh, says the Federal Government is prioritising strategic STI development to strengthen Nigeria’s scientific capacity and position the country as a leading scientific hub in Africa.
Udeh stated this on Wednesday in Abuja while receiving fellows of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Kuo Sharper Center Foundry Fellows in his office.
According to the minister, Nigeria’s vision for science, technology and innovation is anchored on a clear ambition to rank among the world’s leading scientific powers, as outlined in the National Science, Technology and Innovation Policy.
“Nigeria’s STI vision is bold and clear. Our ambition to become one of the world’s leading scientific powers is enshrined in the National Science, Technology and Innovation Policy,” he said.
Udeh noted that while Nigeria was not short of inventions, the country continued to face challenges in translating research outcomes into market-ready solutions.
He said the ministry was strengthening the commercialization pipeline for research and development (R&D) outputs to bridge the persistent gap between research and the market.
To address this challenge, the minister disclosed that the ministry was developing a national policy to commercialize R&D results, inventions and innovations.
According to him, the proposed policy represents a shift from a supply-driven model to a demand-led innovation ecosystem, supported by key legislative and policy instruments.
Among these instruments, he cited Presidential Executive Order No. 5, which prioritizes Nigerian professionals and locally developed technologies in public procurement and infrastructure projects.
“Central to this proposed policy is the Gross Domestic Expenditure on R&D framework, which we describe as Nigeria’s innovation monetary policy.
“For the first time, we will systematically measure our R&D investment, which currently stands at 0.16 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), based on World Bank estimates,” Udeh said.
He added that the Federal Government was committed to meeting the African Union’s recommended target for R&D investment.
The minister also disclosed plans to launch a Commercialization Fund to provide staged financing, from proof of concept to full-scale deployment, while revitalizing the national network of technology incubation centres and innovation hubs.
Udeh said his responsibilities covered the broader STI ecosystem, stressing his commitment to providing leadership and institutional support.
He assured entrepreneurs in the innovation, science and technology space of financial backing, as well as access to partnerships, networks and market linkages.
The minister urged the Foundry Fellows to collaborate with Nigerian innovators through technology transfer, co-development and investment initiatives.
Earlier, the Executive Director of the MIT Kuo Center Foundry Fellows, Dina Sherif, said the visit was aimed at exposing the 2025–2026 cohort of fellows to Nigeria’s entrepreneurial and innovation ecosystem.
She said the engagement would help the fellows gain insights into how leading Nigerian actors navigate growth, volatility and structural constraints in a dynamic business environment.
