NASENI urges young innovators to develop marketable solutions

The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) is calling on young Nigerian innovators to develop practical and marketable solutions that address the nation's pressing challenges. This charge was given as 60 young innovators from across Nigeria's six geopolitical zones began the virtual hackathon phase of the FutureMakers by NASENI innovation program.

Khalil Halilu, the Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of NASENI, emphasized the need to support young innovators with the necessary infrastructure, mentorship, and platforms to transform their ideas into tangible products. He stated that these 60 participants demonstrate the potential of Nigerian youth when equipped to solve problems relevant to their communities. The program aims to foster a transition from a consumer to a producer economy by empowering young Nigerians.

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These 60 innovators represent what is possible when young Nigerians are equipped with the right infrastructure, mentorship and platform to solve the problems closest to them.

The four-day virtual hackathon, running from August 17 to 20, allows participants to develop prototypes and refine technology-driven solutions tailored to regional challenges. For instance, the North-West cohort is addressing gender-related barriers to innovation, while the North-Central group focuses on food security issues linked to insurgency. Innovators in the North-East are working on conflict and security solutions, and the South-West cohort is tackling the rising cost of education.

Participants from the South-South are addressing the disconnect between academia and industry, while those from the South-East are developing solutions for the increasing involvement of children in trading at the expense of their education. Busola Beckley Perez-Folayan, the Hub Manager of the NASENI Innovation Hub, noted that the regional structure ensures participants work on locally relevant problems. The virtual format also expands access by removing logistical barriers. All 60 participants will advance to pitch sessions from August 24-26, where the top three innovators in each zone will receive cash prizes ranging from N500,000 to N1.5 million.

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The regional structure allows participants to develop solutions based on challenges directly affecting their communities.