A New Era for Nigerian Research and Innovation
In a significant move aimed at transforming Nigeria’s economic landscape, the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) brought together academics, policymakers, and innovators at its Abuja headquarters on September 24, 2025. The event underscored a clear message: the future of Nigeria’s economy lies not only in traditional sectors like oil or agriculture but in the commercialization of research and innovation.
For years, Nigerian universities and research institutions have produced numerous groundbreaking studies. However, very few of these have translated into tangible products, technologies, or services that can transform industries and improve livelihoods. This gap between laboratory prototypes and market-ready solutions has long been a source of frustration for scientists, policymakers, and investors alike.
At the North-Central Sensitization Programme on the NASENI Research Commercialization Grant Programme (NRCGP), NASENI’s Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu, reaffirmed the importance of bridging this gap as central to Nigeria’s economic future.
Halilu, represented by NASENI’s Research Director, Prof. Abdulmalik Ibrahim Onuwe, emphasized that the NRCGP was designed to support viable research and development initiatives while promoting NASENI’s mission of driving national transformation through science and engineering.
He highlighted that the application process for the programme is fully digitalized, transparent, and does not require physical presence or lengthy administrative procedures. This approach aims to eliminate bureaucratic bottlenecks that often hinder researchers from accessing funding.
The sensitization programme was not just for personal benefit but to empower prospective researchers from various institutions who may need guidance on how to participate in the programme. Halilu urged participants, including representatives from universities, the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), and others, to take full advantage of the opportunities provided by NASENI to foster collaboration and innovation.
Key Details of the NRCGP
The Programme Coordinator and Special Adviser to the Executive Vice Chairman on Science and Engineering Commercialisation, Engr. Dr. Anas Balarabe Yazid, provided an overview of the NRCGP, its objectives, eligibility criteria, and key assessment tools used to select beneficiaries.
Yazid explained that the NRCGP aligns with NASENI’s mandate to promote local content and operates under the principle of Creation, Collaboration, and Commercialisation (3Cs). Under this framework, research outputs are expected to transition from academic papers to market-ready solutions.
Every research project must be noble, clear, market-viable, and consistent with both NASENI’s transformation agenda and Nigeria’s broader development goals. He noted that under the new framework, commercialization is being prioritized so that research can play its rightful role in national development.
The NRCGP seeks innovative and novel research that has not been done before. It also looks for commercial viability research projects that can generate revenue. Additionally, the research must be published in a peer-reviewed journal and align with NASENI’s objectives of adding value to Nigeria and the world. Projects must also have potential for scale and sustainability, which means they can attract investment.
Thematic Areas and Application Process
Dr. Yazid outlined the thematic areas for these research works, which include Renewable Energy and Sustainability, Health and Biotechnology, Agriculture and Food Manufacturing, Sustainable Transportation and Mobility, Information Technology and Software Development, Construction and Smart City Development, and Defense and Aerospace.
He explained that the application process is strictly online and involves two stages: the first stage evaluates the novelty of the proposal, while the second stage conducts a deeper dive into commercial viability. The Swedish Innovation Readiness Level framework is used for evaluating the viability of applications.
Additional information required includes a profile, detailed proposal, business plan, feasibility study report, pitch deck, technology readiness level (TRL), evidence of IP registration with CAC, environmental impact assessment, letter of intent from industrial off-takers, risk assessment report, and any supporting technical documents or certifications.
Beyond the grants, other benefits include access to NASENI’s innovation hub, admission into the NASENI Incubation programme, high chances of joining NASENI Xcelerate, access to more equity and debt financing, access to 12 institutes and centres of excellence, government market access through the Nigerian First Policy, and many more.
The Broader Impact of NASENI
The Deputy Director, Planning and Policy Analysis Department, NASENI, Ms. Joy Elugbe, expressed appreciation to the Executive Vice Chairman and all participants who attended the sensitization programme. She noted that the NRCGP represents a significant opportunity for researchers to translate their work into products and services that drive national progress.
She encouraged them to embrace NASENI’s initiatives as a pathway to achieving Nigeria’s vision of economic growth and development through science, technology, and innovation. The sensitization programme highlighted the importance of repositioning Nigeria’s research culture to focus more on outcomes that have economic value.
For decades, many research projects have remained locked within universities and research institutions, gaining academic recognition but failing to make an impact in the market or on people’s lives. NASENI’s intervention seeks to change this narrative by offering support for those projects that can be commercialized to create jobs, increase productivity, and contribute to economic transformation.
NASENI’s Legacy and Future Vision
Background information about NASENI underscores the significance of this programme. The agency was established in 1992 following the recommendations of a White Paper Committee on Engineering Infrastructure. It was conceived to bridge Nigeria’s technology gap and foster home-grown industrialization.
Its mandate includes research into capital goods production, reverse engineering, development of scientific equipment, engineering designs, standardization, and the development of power equipment. With a network of development institutes spread across the country, NASENI has consistently worked to ensure that Nigeria builds its own technological base rather than rely solely on imports.
In recent years, under Mr. Halilu’s leadership, NASENI has intensified efforts to ensure that its branded products are market-ready and certified by the Standards Organisation of Nigeria. Reports indicate that about 35 NASENI products have been identified as ready for the market, and plans are underway to establish showrooms in all 36 states of the federation to showcase these innovations and link them directly with consumers and industries.
The NRCGP therefore builds on this foundation, providing a practical avenue for researchers to connect their innovations with industry and society. By adopting a digitalized and transparent application process, NASENI is addressing long-standing concerns about accessibility and fairness in grant administration.
The process also ensures that researchers across all parts of the country, including underserved regions, can apply without the barriers of travel and excessive paperwork.
This initiative represents more than a grant opportunity. It is a deliberate effort to build a culture of research commercialization that would reposition Nigeria for growth. It signals a move away from research for its own sake towards research that delivers measurable impact in the economy. It also affirms NASENI’s commitment to ensuring that science, engineering, and technology are not just academic disciplines but engines of development.
In the words of Ms. Elugbe, this is not just about grants but about creating a culture where research becomes the heartbeat of national progress. With the NRCGP, NASENI has placed a framework in the hands of researchers, institutions, and innovators. The responsibility now rests with them to rise to the challenge of transforming their ideas into products, their prototypes into industries, and their academic efforts into national prosperity.
The NRCGP is expected to eliminate the era of decades of abandoned research and development (R&D) products that were meant to solve everyday humanity problems.
