AfriLabs, Africa’s largest and most connected network of innovation hubs, has partnered with the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) to launch the Innovate Naija Challenge, a groundbreaking initiative aimed at discovering, funding, and scaling homegrown Nigerian innovations with a prize pool of ₦250 million.
The programme marks a major step in bridging Nigeria’s immense creative potential with the infrastructure and resources needed to transform ideas into thriving industries.
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Since its establishment in 2011, AfriLabs has grown into a continental powerhouse, linking more than 400 technology and innovation hubs across 52 African countries. Over the years, it has become a lifeline for entrepreneurs and startups by providing mentorship, access to funding, policy advocacy, and opportunities to scale beyond local markets. This rich track record of nurturing ideas into successful ventures places AfriLabs in a unique position to guide Nigerian innovators through this challenge and prepare them for global competitiveness.
NASENI, on the other hand, brings its mandate and infrastructure to the partnership. As the federal agency tasked with advancing science, engineering, and industrial capacity in Nigeria, NASENI operates 12 dedicated research institutes while also providing access to advanced machinery, technical support, and government-level backing. Together, AfriLabs and NASENI are offering a platform where ingenuity meets infrastructure, ensuring that innovations are not only discovered but also systematically supported and commercialized.
The Innovate Naija Challenge is designed to be inclusive, reaching across all 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory. From each state, five innovations will be shortlisted, creating a pool of 185 solutions. The public will then have the opportunity to vote, selecting one winner from each state and the FCT, making 37 innovators in total. From this group, 15 finalists will be chosen to pitch their solutions at the NASENI Invention Festival, where they will compete for grand prizes and broader recognition.
Beyond the financial rewards, the challenge is built to provide long-term value. Winners will join NASENI’s Innovation Hub Incubation Programme, where they will gain access to world-class laboratories, research facilities, and advanced tools to refine and scale their solutions. Governors and the FCT minister have also been invited to lend their support to innovators emerging from their regions, ensuring that local champions are not only celebrated nationally but also recognized and backed at the community level.
Speaking on the initiative, Anas Balarabe Yazid, Special Adviser on Commercialisation to NASENI’s Executive Vice Chairman, described the challenge as “a platform to accelerate homegrown innovation, one that connects Nigeria’s brightest minds to the tools and support they need to build sustainable industries.”
For AfriLabs, the collaboration reflects its mission to empower innovators, provide platforms for growth, and turn African ingenuity into solutions that make global impact.
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Nigeria has long been known for its creativity and entrepreneurial spirit, but many innovators face barriers of funding, infrastructure, and scale. The Innovate Naija Challenge responds directly to these challenges by combining AfriLabs’ continental network and mentorship ecosystem with NASENI’s infrastructure and institutional support. In doing so, it offers more than just financial prizes—it creates a pathway for Nigerian innovations to grow into businesses, jobs, and industries that can accelerate the nation’s economic transformation.
