Tinubu’s Innovation Drive takes off as Offa Polytechnic gets Technology Incubation Centre
Nigeria’s march toward a technology-driven economy received a major boost on Thursday with the inauguration of the Institutional-Based Technology Incubation Centre (IBTIC) at the Federal Polytechnic, Offa, Kwara State.
The Director-General of the National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI), Dr. Kazeem Kolawole Raji, who spoke at the event, described the centre as a “bold declaration of Nigeria’s readiness to lead in the global technology landscape.”
According to him, the initiative is part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, designed to reposition the country’s economy beyond oil and gas by empowering youths, supporting innovation, and fostering industrial growth.
“This centre is more than bricks and mortar; it is a promise to our youth that their creativity will be valued and commercialized, a promise to industry that solutions will be found within our borders, and a promise to our nation that economic transformation through technology incubation is both achievable and imminent,” Raji said.
Dr. Raji explained that the NBTI, established in 1993, has the mandate to transform research and indigenous innovations into commercially viable enterprises. He noted that the launch of the IBTIC at Offa Polytechnic is in line with the agency’s “Catch Them Young” initiative, which engages students early by equipping them with entrepreneurial and technological skills.
Highlighting some of the innovations already emerging from the institution, the NBTI boss cited electric vehicles, Internet of Things (IoT) solutions, and sweet potato bread, among others, as examples of the ingenuity of Nigerian students when given the right support.
Dr. Raji commended President Tinubu for his “unwavering dedication to empowering Nigerian youths and revolutionizing the technology ecosystem.” He also acknowledged the support of Kwara State Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, the Rector of Federal Polytechnic Offa, Engr. Dr. Kamoru O. Kadiri, FNSE, and other stakeholders for their contributions to the success of the project.
He stressed that the IBTIC would play a crucial role in diversifying the nation’s economy, creating jobs, and positioning Nigeria as a competitive player in global technology markets.
“Distinguished Nigerians, this is our call to action: to unite behind a future where Nigerian ideas blossom into thriving enterprises; where technology and innovation power prosperity; and where the promise of the Renewed Hope Agenda is fulfilled for every Nigerian,” he said.
The inauguration of the IBTIC at Offa marks another step in Nigeria’s innovation renaissance, as the country seeks to leverage its youthful population, homegrown solutions, and strategic policies to transform its economy.
