The Federal Government of Nigeria has officially launched a major national competition aimed at unlocking the country's creative potential in critical sectors. Through the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), the government has introduced the InnovateNaija Challenge, backed by a substantial ₦140 million prize pool.
Boosting Homegrown Solutions for Economic Growth
This initiative is a strategic move by President Bola Tinubu's administration to spur domestic growth and strengthen Nigeria's industrial and technology base. The core objective is to transform promising ideas into scalable, commercially viable solutions that address real problems within the Nigerian economy.
NASENI has stated that the programme specifically targets innovations that can:
- Boost productivity across key sectors.
- Create sustainable job opportunities.
- Reduce the nation's dependence on imports.
- Solve pressing social or economic challenges.
By combining significant funding with structured mentorship and infrastructure support, the government aims to bridge the gaps in skills and financing that have historically slowed the growth of local innovation ecosystems.
₦140 Million Prize Pool and Key Benefits
The financial incentives for participants are substantial and structured to reward excellence at both state and national levels.
The overall national winner of the InnovateNaija Challenge will receive a massive grant of ₦100 million to further develop and scale their innovation.
Furthermore, the competition will produce one winner from each of Nigeria's 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Each of these state-level champions will be awarded ₦2.5 million in grant funding.
Beyond the cash prizes, finalists will gain access to invaluable non-financial support:
- High-profile showcasing and pitching opportunities at the NASENI Invention Fest in Abuja in February 2026.
- Direct mentorship from industry experts and investors.
- Guidance on commercialisation pathways for their products or ideas.
- Potential access to NASENI Innovation Hubs for incubation and training.
Eligibility and Application Process
The competition is open to all young Nigerian innovators, entrepreneurs, researchers, and inventors across the federation. NASENI emphasises that the focus is on originality, practicality, and measurable impact, not formal academic qualifications or registered business status.
Eligible entries must centre on science, engineering, manufacturing, technology, or applied innovation. The agency is particularly interested in ideas or prototypes that can be scaled to solve local challenges.
The competition will run in two phases over approximately three months:
- State-Level Selection: Innovators submit entries, which are assessed to select one winner per state/FCT, each receiving ₦2.5 million.
- National Finals: The top 15 innovators nationwide will advance to the final pitch event at the NASENI Invention Fest in Abuja to compete for the grand ₦100 million prize.
Interested applicants must prepare a clear summary of their idea, explaining the problem it solves and how it works, along with a short explanatory video. Submissions are made through the official NASENI Innovation Hub portal or its partner channels.
This launch follows the recent opening of the application portal for the 2026 cycle of the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP), which offers interest-free loans up to ₦300,000. Together, these initiatives underscore the Federal Government's intensified efforts to support micro, small, and medium enterprises and foster a culture of innovation among Nigerian youth.
