Chief Uche Geoffrey Nnaji, Nigeria’s Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for significant achievements in energy, technology, and employment over the past two years. Nnaji described the administration as a “powerhouse of progress,” highlighting key projects that blend science and innovation to transform Nigeria’s economy.
One standout effort is the Renewed Hope Solarisation Project, which installs 2MW solar hybrid power systems in federal universities and teaching hospitals across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. This initiative supports clean, reliable energy for essential institutions. Alongside this, the Sustainable Energy Access Project (SEAP) aims to bring clean energy and cooking solutions to all 774 local governments, with an estimated one million new jobs focused on women, youth, and artisans.
President Tinubu has also approved four new satellites under the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), including NigeriaSat-3, Sat-4, Sat-5, and NigeriaSAR-1. These satellites will enhance national security, disaster response, agricultural planning, and land management, marking a leap forward in space technology.
Nnaji emphasized the introduction of Nigeria’s first Cleantech Innovation Policy. Supported by international partners, this policy promotes green industrial growth and aims to create over 500,000 jobs in sectors such as agritech, smart manufacturing, and renewable energy. To strengthen local industry, a proposed 30% Minimum Value-Addition Bill seeks to require more local processing of raw materials, reducing imports and creating new jobs.
Reviving the cassava value chain is a key strategy for import substitution and rural industrial growth. The ministry is promoting the industrial use of high-grade cassava starch in food, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and animal feed, thereby boosting local manufacturing.
Other significant projects include a €7.9 billion Green and Blue Methanol Industrial Complex to produce low-carbon fuels, Nigeria’s first Artemisinin Extraction Plant for malaria treatment, and new agro-processing equipment to enhance food security and reduce waste.
The soon-to-be-launched National Research and Innovation Fund (NRIF) aims to commercialize research, targeting over 1,000 new patents annually. An Inter-Ministerial Innovation Committee, led by the Vice President, tracks innovation progress across government agencies using real-time data.
Nnaji also noted international partnerships with organizations such as the UNDP, UNESCO, the Commonwealth Secretariat, and the African Development Bank, which have helped attract foreign investment into Nigeria’s innovation sector. These efforts reflect President Tinubu’s forward-looking foreign policy.
Nnaji concluded by expressing gratitude to the President: “From satellite skies to solar campuses, and from mechanised farms to biotech labs—Nigeria is rising, and it is powered by innovation.”
