*The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure, in Nigeria, launches its xceler8 programme, a strategic accelerator initiative designed to help Nigerian innovators to transform scientific and engineering breakthroughs into commercially successful businesses
Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect
The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) has launched the NASENI xceler8 Programme, a strategic accelerator initiative designed to help Nigerian innovators transform scientific and engineering breakthroughs into commercially successful businesses.
NASENI’s programme is being implemented by the NASENI Innovation Hub in partnership with AfriLabs, Africa’s largest network of innovation and technology hubs.
The market-oriented agency initiative aims to accelerate 100 innovators, refine 100 Minimum Viable Products (MVPs), and create at least 400 direct and indirect jobs across four cohorts.
Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu, Executive Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (EVC/CEO) of NASENI, represented by his Special Adviser on ICT, Engineer Bashir Aliyu, said the true measure of innovation lies not in the number of ideas, research papers or prototypes developed, but in their ability to become products that solve real problems, attract investment, create jobs and compete in the marketplace.
According to him, the NASENI xceler8 Programme targets innovators who already have functional prototypes, MVPs or live commercial products with evidence of market demand.
The EVC/CEO of agency explained that participants would receive support in product refinement, business development, market access, technical mentorship, industry networking and investment readiness.
Halilu stressed that commercialisation is essential to Nigeria’s economic transformation.
Halilu noted that innovations that remain in laboratories cannot deliver their full social and economic value. Successful commercialisation, he said, creates industries, intellectual property, jobs and investment opportunities while strengthening local problem-solving capacity.
Mrs. Busola Perez-Folayan, Head of the NASENI Innovation Hub, said the programme provides a structured pathway from onboarding and mentorship to market validation and investment readiness.
Perez-Folayan disclosed that participants would receive acceleration support valued at up to $25,000 per cohort, while the top 10 innovators in each cohort would participate in a Demo Day in Abuja to pitch to investors and industry stakeholders.
The programme is open to Nigerians aged 15 to 40 with functional MVPs or live commercial products and evidence of paying customers.
Applicants must present science, engineering or technology-driven solutions and demonstrate a commitment to national development.
Speaking on the partnership, Mrs. Nanko Madu, AfriLabs Executive Director, said the collaboration was driven by a shared vision of building an innovation ecosystem capable of translating Nigerian ingenuity into commercial and industrial success.
Madu noted that AfriLabs’ network of over 540 innovation hubs across 54 African countries would connect participants to mentors, investors, accelerators, corporate partners and markets across the continent.
She observed that Nigeria does not lack talent or ideas, but requires stronger systems to help promising innovations move beyond the prototype stage into scalable businesses.
Mr. Austin Onele, Managing Director of Vidaho Limited, highlighted the financing needs of deep-tech ventures.
Onele stated that they require substantial investment in research, engineering, certification, manufacturing and commercialisation.
A highlight of the event was the unveiling of the xceler8 programme structure, with NASENI and AfriLabs urged eligible innovators to apply and take advantage of the opportunity to scale their innovations for national and global impact on www.innovation.naseni.gov.ng/xceler8-programme/#apply OR bit.ly/NXceler8