Kazeem Raji, director-general of the National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI), says Nigeria’s BRICS membership gives local innovators “unprecedented” access to global markets and direct links to a bloc representing over 40 percent of the world’s population and trillions in trade.
BRICS, an acronym for Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, is a powerful alliance of emerging economies. The bloc has been steadily gaining prominence globally, offering a platform for economic and political cooperation among developing nations.
Nigeria was admitted as a partner country to the bloc in January.
Raji spoke in Abuja on Wednesday at the ‘National showcase: Nextgen innovation challenge 2025’.
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National showcase: Nextgen innovation challenge 2025 is an initiative of the National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI) and managed by UKALD, aimed at identifying, supporting, and showcasing Nigeria’s most promising innovators across strategic sectors.
He said the innovation challenge “sent a message loud and clear” that “Nigeria is not just catching up; Nigeria is taking the lead”.
“Every entry, every idea, is a vote of confidence in the future we are building—a future authored by Nigerians, for Nigeria, and for a world in desperate need of new thinking,” Raji added.
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He described the national showcase of the nextgen innovation challenge 2025 as a transformative platform engineered to amplify the brilliance of Nigerian minds and to project homegrown solutions onto the global stage.
“Our theme for this National Showcase, ‘Igniting Indigenous Ingenuity: Nigerian Solutions, Global Impact,’ captures the essence of this gathering. It is not just a slogan,” he said.
“It is a declaration—bold, unflinching, and resolute—that Nigeria’s time to lead with innovation is now.
“Let me acknowledge the visionary leadership of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed
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Tinubu, GCFR, whose renewed hope agenda charts a bold path from consumption to production, from dependence to innovation.
“Under the visionary leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, Nigeria is undergoing a bold and deliberate transformation—anchored on the renewed hope agenda, the Nigeria first policy, and now, Nigeria’s historic inclusion in the BRICS economic alliance.
“These are not just policies and partnerships; they are platforms—designed to elevate our homegrown talent, strengthen our sovereignty, and power a new era of innovation-led development.
“You, the innovators, are the living proof that Nigeria’s greatest resource is not beneath the ground—it is within our people.
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“The Nigeria first policy is a clarion call to prioritise local solutions for local and global challenges.
“It is an affirmation that Nigerian ideas matter, Nigerian products are valuable, and Nigerian innovators deserve to lead. You now operate in an ecosystem that is deliberately being shaped to favour you—with government support, development financing, and policy reforms aligned to empower indigenous thinkers, builders, innovators, and creators.
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“At the same time, Nigeria’s membership in BRICS opens unprecedented access to global markets—linking you directly to a multilateral bloc that collectively represents over 40% of the world’s population and trillions of dollars in trade and investment flows.
“This is your passport to new partnerships, new funding channels, new export opportunities, and cutting-edge collaboration with fellow innovators across emerging economies.”
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‘NIGERIAN INNOVATORS HAVE IDEAS TO TRANSFORM INDUSTRIES’
Uche Nnaji, minister of innovation, science, and technology, said the private sector and international organisations should invest in Nigerian innovators, noting that they have solutions that can transform lives.
“I urge you to invest in these innovators. What you see today is just a glimpse of what Nigeria has to offer,” he said.
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“These young men and women don’t just have ideas—they have solutions, blueprints, and scalable products that can redefine industries and transform lives.”
Nnaji said over 3,000 innovation entries from the 36 states of the federation and the federal capital territory (FCT) were received for the challenge.
“From this incredible pool of talent, 74 finalists have emerged—each one a testament to the ingenuity, courage, and brilliance that define the Nigerian spirit,” he added.
He noted that innovation is at the heart of governance and national development under the renewed hope agenda of the federal government.
“That’s why we are investing in digital transformation, expanding access to science and technology education, and reforming our innovation ecosystem to reduce bureaucracy and open doors to capital, mentorship, and market access,” the minister said.
“Today, we are seeing the practical fruits of that vision. From clean energy to agric-tech, fintech, edtech, AI, and deep-tech solutions, our young innovators are proving that Nigeria is not just consuming technology; we are creating it.”
He reiterated that his ministry is committed to strengthening innovation hubs across the country and scaling support for idea-to-market transitions.
Speaking during the 17th BRICS summit on Saturday, Tinubu said there should be equity and inclusion for low-income and emerging economies in global financial systems.
