The federal government has declared that the true measure of innovation lies in its ability to create wealth, generate employment, solve societal challenges and improve the quality of life of citizens through strategic investments in research, development and commercialization.
The Honourable Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr. Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh, SAN, stated this at the 2nd International Conference on Science, Technology and Innovation (STICONF), held from 16-18 June in Abuja with the theme “Bridging the Tech Divide: Strengthening Research Institutions–Industry Linkages for Achieving Africa’s Global Competitiveness.” The minister who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Mukhtar Yawale Muhammad emphasized that Nigeria must move beyond research for academic purposes and focus on translating scientific discoveries into market-driven products and services capable of driving industrial growth, economic diversification and national prosperity.
He highlighted the ministry’s flagship initiative, tagged “Energise Commercialisation Now” (ECoN) which has been strategically designed to identify promising innovations, facilitate technology transfer, strengthen industry partnerships, attract investment and commercialize research outputs for the benefit of Nigerians.
According to the minister, “no nation can attain sustainable development when critical stakeholders operate in isolation. Stronger linkages between research institutions and industry are essential to accelerate technology adoption and commercialization.
He reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to providing an enabling environment where science, technology and innovation (NTI) remain at the forefront of national development, commending STICONF organizers for creating a strategic platform for collaboration and knowledge exchange. Stakeholders at the conference corroborated the ministers perspective. The founder and president of Welcome to Nigeria Development Initiative (WeNDI), Mr Isa Yusuf Sago stressed that Africa’s competitiveness depends on bridging the gap between knowledge generation and innovation commercialization.
He called for intentional, demand-driven research aligned with national priorities. The Director-General/Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute (NBRRI), Prof. Samson Duna underscored the importance of indigenous building materials and local technologies as drivers of sustainable development, job creation and national self-reliance. Similarly, the Director-General of the National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency (NBRDA), Prof. Abdullahi Mustapha described STI as the bedrock of national development, urging participants to foster partnerships and develop actionable Memoranda of Understanding to translate conference resolutions into impactful projects.
Also at the conference’s technical panel session on “Digital Economy and Artificial Intelligence,” Deputy Director and Head of the Engineering and Emerging Technologies Service Team at SITOPEO-5, Dr. Engr Patricks Oghuma moderated discussions that emphasized the transformative role of AI in Africa’s competitiveness.
He noted that the digital economy is a new marketplace where “data is currency and connectivity is capital”.
He explained that artificial intelligence is not about machines thinking, but about humans rethinking, adding that AI does not replace human intelligence but is reshaping productivity, trade, and innovation while redefining how value is created and exchanged.In another session on Inter-Agency Engagement and STI Data Sharing, moderated by the former Director-General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria, Professor Sani Sambo, Dr Engr Oghuma highlighted the ministry’s commitment to collaboration and transparency.
He noted that initiatives such as the National STI Policy 2025 amendment, the STI Roadmap 2030 and NACETEM’s Indicator Dashboard are breaking down silos, aligning national standards and providing a unified platform for evidence-based decision-making.
Dr. Oghuma further explained that with the honourable minister’s latest initiative on ECoN, bridges are being built across ministries, research institutes, and the private sector to accelerate Nigeria’s knowledge economy. He described this as a call to collective action across government, academia and industry.
He disclosed that the ministry is also compiling a compendium of projects from the ECoN outcomes in Kano, to be shared with chambers of commerce and industry ahead of upcoming events, enabling prospective investors to engage proactively. ECoN is not a replacement but an evolution — it complements the STI Expo by focusing on commercialisation. He added that the ministry will continue to run the STI Expo as its flagship event, while ECoN strengthens Nigeria’s innovation-to-market pipeline.
On Executive Order 5, Dr. Oghuma stressed that it is a sector-specific regulation designed to reduce dependence on imports and strengthen local industries, particularly in the non-oil and gas sectors.
The STICONF international conference serves as a premier platform for fostering collaboration between research institutions, industry, government and development partners. This year’s edition brought stakeholders together to exchange ideas, share best practices and develop actionable strategies to enhance Africa’s competitiveness in the global knowledge economy.
On its part, WeNDI is a non-profit organization committed to promoting sustainable development in Nigeria through innovation, entrepreneurship and capacity building. The Initiative provides platforms for dialogue, collaboration and action among government, academia, industry, and civil society to strengthen Nigeria’s competitiveness in the global economy.
