Prof. Peter Onwualu, President of the African University of Science and Technology (AUST), says African countries must transition from reliance on imported solutions to homegrown innovation driven by research commercialization.
Onwualu, a former Director-General of the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), said this at a news conference on Wednesday in Abuja ahead of the Africa X Summit scheduled for April 27 to 29.
He noted that many solutions currently used to address the continent’s challenges are largely imported technologies or semi-processed inputs, making development efforts unsustainable.
Despite Nigeria’s youthful and highly educated population, abundant natural resources, and the growing emergence of innovation hubs across cities, he said the country still struggles to translate knowledge into tangible economic value.
“The fact that almost everything we use or consume, including inputs for production, is imported is why our development agenda is not sustainable,” he said.
Onwualu added that although youths and researchers have made commendable efforts in developing technologies and solutions, more must be done to move research outcomes into innovation and ultimately into marketable goods and services.
He described the situation as a systemic failure that has hindered the commercialization of research findings and inventions, despite the presence of over 300 higher institutions, hundreds of research centres, and a growing informal innovation sector.
AfricaX Summit to Bridge Innovation Gap
He explained that the AfricaX Summit was conceived as a platform to bridge this gap by bringing together innovators, investors, entrepreneurs, and policymakers.
According to him, the event will facilitate matchmaking between innovators seeking to scale their solutions and investors looking for viable opportunities, with the aim of helping selected innovations reach the market.
He added that the initiative will strengthen collaboration among stakeholders, including government institutions responsible for policy development.
The summit will also attract participants from across Africa, in line with the continent’s push for economic integration under frameworks such as the African Continental Free Trade Area.
Onwualu also called for the passage and implementation of the National Research and Innovation Fund to ensure sustainable funding for research and development.
Summit Seen as Turning Point for Africa
Earlier, Chairman of the Local Organising Committee, Mr Kingsley Ogwudu, described the summit as a pivotal moment in Africa’s innovation journey.
Ogwudu said the event would serve as a catalyst to bridge the gap between African research and global capital, bringing together innovators, researchers, investors, policymakers, and development partners.
“Africa can no longer be a mere consumer of innovation and technology; we must become architects of solutions to our own challenges in health, education, climate change, energy, and fintech,” he said.
He added that the summit will focus on innovation ecosystems, investment and finance, youth and women empowerment, and public-private partnerships.
The summit also aims to reverse brain drain by creating opportunities for African talent to develop globally relevant solutions.
“This is the stage for innovators, the deal room for investors, and the future for the public,” he said.
The AfricaX Summit is expected to become an annual event, rotating across African countries to deepen collaboration, encourage knowledge sharing, and promote innovation across the continent.
The theme of the summit is “Reshaping the Future of Africa through Innovation, Investment and Collaboration.”
