By Gloria Irabor
Nigeria’s Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology Chief Uche Nnaji has called on African countries to build and strengthen deep regional collaborations that can accelerate innovation driven sustainable development across the continent. He made the call at the 2025 Ghana Research and Industry Collaborative (GRIC) annual forum held during the week at the British Council auditorium in Accra, Ghana. Speaking to a distinguished audience of researchers, industry leaders, development partners and government officials, the minister who was represented by his special assistant Engr. Dr Patricks Oghuma praised Ghana’s leadership in aligning research with industrial growth. He emphasized the transformative power of innovations across the regions, pointing out that Africa’s asset is not beneath the soil but in the classrooms, laboratories and technology hubs.
The minister outlined Nigeria’s increased strategic commitment and investment in research and innovation reflected in the 2025 federal budget. He proposed four key initiatives to strengthen regional ties: Joint commercialization programs between Nigeria and Ghana tech incubators and universities; A West African Innovation Exchange for cross-border startup investment; Industrial research clusters in agritech, pharmaceuticals, and digital infrastructure; Bilateral policy harmonization to ease movement of researchers and technologies across Economic Communities Of West African States (ECOWAS).
He explained that these initiatives aim to bridge the gap between academia and industry and foster a more integrated innovation ecosystem across the region.
He announced the establishment of Nigeria’s Inter-Ministerial Committee on Research and Innovation (IMC-RI), chaired by Vice President Senator Kashim Shettima, to harmonize the country’s fragmented innovation landscape and translate research into real-world impact.
Chief Nnaji also commended the efforts of the Nigeria Impact Investing Research and Industry Collaborative (NIIRIC), the Impact Investors Foundation (IIF) and the National Advisory Board on Impact Investing (NABII) for their leadership in driving commercialization through the RISA fund
He admonished the stakeholders to move from dialogue to action urging Ghanaian industry leaders to co-create with Nigerian counterparts and build a resilient, globally competitive industrial base. In a heartfelt moment, Chief Nnaji paid tribute to Ghana’s late ministers Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed and Hon. Edward Omane Boamah who tragically died in a helicopter crash on August 6, 2025.
