By Fatima Saka
Abuja – The Director General of the National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI), Dr. Kazeem Kolawole Olorunraji, has announced that Nigeria will take the global innovation stage next week as the country’s top young innovators converge in London for the grand finale of the NextGen Innovation Challenge 2025.
At the World Press Conference on Thursday in Abuja, Dr. Olorunraji described the initiative as a national movement to connect Nigerian grassroots ingenuity with global investors, positioning the country as a hub of technology-driven solutions for its most pressing challenges.
Launched on May 28 in Abuja, the NextGen Innovation Challenge attracted over 3,000 entries from all 36 states and the FCT, with 105 innovators shortlisted. From this pool, five standout innovators will represent Nigeria in London on October 9 before an international panel of investors, policymakers, and development experts.
Highlight innovations include:
BraX Smart Wearable – a bra designed to detect early signs of breast cancer through mobile-linked alerts.
Multi-Patient Ventilator – a device capable of supporting six patients simultaneously, developed to prevent ventilator shortages like those experienced during COVID-19.
AI-Enabled Drones – precision farming tools designed to boost agricultural productivity and improve food security.
Geo-Tracking Wearables – discreet devices to help trace and rescue kidnapping victims.
Affordable Clean Energy Solutions – tailored for underserved communities in the Niger Delta and other regions.
“These innovations are not just ideas; they are solutions to Nigeria’s real problems. With the right investment, each has the potential to create jobs, generate revenue, and transform communities,” Dr. Olorunraji said.
He emphasized that the decision to host the finale in London was strategic, given its role as a global hub for capital and technology partnerships. The event will attract global investors including Tesla Europe, Innovate UK, SpringLab Germany, and UNDP, alongside Nigerian diaspora investors seeking opportunities back home.
Expected outcomes from the finale include: Signing of MOUs on renewable energy and clean growth projects.
Launch of the NBTI Global Hub, an innovation marketplace linking Nigerian startups with international investors.
Strategic partnerships with European and Middle Eastern institutions to scale Nigerian solutions globally.
Dr. Olorunraji also expressed profound gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, noting that “his Renewed Hope Agenda has rekindled the flame of innovation and empowered young Nigerians to dream beyond borders.”
He further commended the British High Commission for fast-tracking visas for the innovators and Air Peace for supporting discounted flights.
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“The NextGen Innovation Challenge is more than a competition. It is Nigeria’s innovation renaissance. It is how we will empower our youth, solve our problems with homegrown solutions, and project our brilliance to the world,” he declared.
The Grand Finale of the NextGen Innovation Challenge 2025 will be held on October 9, 2025, at London Paddington, featuring pitches, fireside chats, international MOUs, and a global investor showcase.
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