In a bold move to strengthen Nigeria’s technology ecosystem, the National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI) and the High Tech Centre for Nigerian Women and Youths have partnered to drive innovation, commercialization, and digital empowerment across the country.
The collaboration, aligned with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision for technological advancement, aims to create sustainable opportunities for youth-led innovation and entrepreneurship.
During a courtesy visit to NBTI Headquarters in Abuja, Dr. Omowunmi Hassan, President of the High Tech Centre, emphasized the organization’s commitment to digital literacy, ICT training, and STEM education for women and youths. She showcased solar dryers, solar-powered tricycles, and biodigesters as some of the Centre’s high-impact projects with commercialization potential.
Dr. Kazeem Kolawole Raji, Director General/CEO of NBTI, welcomed the partnership, highlighting NBTI’s role in transforming research and development (R&D) outputs into market-ready products. With over 10,000 products developed under its incubation program across Nigeria’s 36 states, NBTI plays a vital role in helping Nigerian innovations gain local and international market access.
He stressed the importance of quality assurance in product commercialization and emphasized NBTI’s collaborations with regulatory agencies such as the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to uphold strict quality standards.
Dr. Raji also highlighted market access opportunities, including trade fairs, exhibitions, and business linkages, which provide Nigerian innovators with a platform to showcase their products.
Commending the High Tech Centre’s contributions to youth and women’s empowerment, he encouraged greater investment in product development and R&D to enhance the socio-economic impact of their innovations.
This strategic partnership marks a major step in advancing Nigeria’s technology-driven economic growth, fostering youth entrepreneurship, and accelerating digital transformation efforts in line with the national development agenda.
