Nigeria has recorded another major feat in its technology drive, aimed at placing Science, research, and innovation on the front burner. The feat was attained during President Bola Tinubu’s recent visit to the Republic Türkiye, where both countries advanced discussions for a joint research-to-market pathways between both countries. This is coming barely two weeks after Nigeria secured a bilateral agreement with United Arab Emirates (EUA), on technology promotion and transfer, knowledge exchange, and innovation. Giving an insight to the deal with Türkiye, the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, disclosed that the deal is part of Nigerian government’s resolve to move beyond research for knowledge-sake, and focus on innovation that delivers measurable economic and social impact.
According to the minister, Dr. Kingsley Udeh, the deal was informed by Türkiye’s success in commercialising research through effective technology transfer and strong private-sector engagement, which she said “provides valuable lessons for Nigeria”. The Head of Press of the ministry, Mrs. Pauline Sule, who made this known in a statement, further stated that Nigeria is developing a clear and actionable framework to support research-to-market pathways between both countries. According to the statement, the minister, Dr. Kingsley Udeh, remarked that the collaboration would prioritise joint research and development, innovation financing, capacity building, startup incubation, and industrial scaleup.
These efforts, according to the Udeh, are expected to strengthen Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem, promote industrialisation, and enhance competitiveness in the global technology space. He reiterated that the initiative aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the current administration, which places innovation, science, and technology at the heart of economic diversification and sustainable development. With the latest bilateral agreements with Türkiye and UAE, Nigeria has broadened its strategic partnerships with the global community, particularly in advancing integrated sustainability solutions in renewable energy and clean power investments, sustainable infrastructure and innovative financing, climate-smart agriculture and food systems, technology transfer, capacity building and green innovation.
Tinubu went further by inviting investors to take advantage of the country’s vast natural and human resources, as well as the conducive environment for mutually beneficial economic growth: “We welcome deeper engagement with UAE sovereign investors, development institutions, and privatesector leaders to accelerate flagship projects that reflect the ‘All Systems Go’ approach, where energy, finance, technology, and people work in synergy,” the president said. Speaking on the theme of the UAE summit, ‘The Nexus of Next: All Systems Go,’ Tinubu underscored the urgency and integration required for sustainable transitions across finance, technology, energy, and human capital.
He, therefore, assured the readiness of the African most populous nation to work with partners across the world to ensure that the next era of development was not only green and inclusive, but just and enduring. He also reassured the international business community that Nigeria was ready for business, as demonstrated by the various reforms already being pursued by his administration with tangible outcomes as reflected in the economy.
