The Young Africa Innovates Programme will begin state-level innovation showcases in December as part of efforts to highlight youth-led solutions across the country.
The initiative, implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, will hold in Lagos, Anambra, Kaduna, Kwara, Ekiti, Akwa Ibom, and Borno from December 4 to 18.
According to organisers, the showcases will allow young innovators to pitch their ideas, exhibit prototypes, and engage stakeholders from government, the private sector, civil society, academia, and the investment community.
The programme drew more than 9,000 applications at the start of the year. After an initial screening, 1,348 youths were admitted into bootcamps where they worked on business models, design thinking and impact planning. From the group, 205 innovators moved to the Stage Gating phase, described as a period of incubation to test, validate and scale their ideas.
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Over the past four months, participants engaged in residency workshops, one-on-one mentoring and peer learning sessions. They developed minimum viable products, built partnerships, strengthened market strategies and refined go-to-market plans.
Organisers said more than 70 percent of the selected innovators are women, while 14 percent are persons with disabilities.
The showcases will feature exhibition booths for live demonstrations, pitch sessions, fireside conversations with state leaders and industry experts, partnership discussions and media coverage across TV, radio, print and online platforms.
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“Innovation isn’t just about technology; it’s about solving real problems that affect real people,” said Elsie G. Attafuah, UNDP resident representative in Nigeria.
“The State Showcase is a celebration of young people doing exactly that: building climate solutions, inclusive fintech tools, waste-to-wealth platforms, agro-logistics systems, and more. Listening to the wide range of innovations from healthcare to agriculture and more, what stands out is how much this journey has built the confidence of our young innovators. Many of them shared how the process brought clarity to their ideas and helped them form critical connections.
“What’s especially inspiring is our joint focus with the Mastercard Foundation on supporting atypical innovators—young people from underserved communities, including women, persons with disabilities, and other vulnerable groups. And what excites us even more is that we’re not just stopping here. We’re connecting these young innovators to Nigeria’s broader innovation ecosystem, ensuring they have a platform to grow, scale and lead lasting change.”
The partners said the Young Africa Innovates Programme is central to their goal of creating dignified and fulfilling work for young Africans, particularly those excluded from mainstream innovation. They said the December showcases reflect how youth-led solutions can contribute to building a knowledge-driven and resilient society.
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