Pan-African hubs network AfriLabs and Nigeria’s National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) have partnered to launch an innovation lab that will help young innovators and startups across Nigeria to commercialise groundbreaking technologies and foster sustainable economic growth.
AfriLabs is a network organisation that is committed to driving innovation and entrepreneurship on the continent by bringing together technology hubs, startups, investors, and other key stakeholders in the ecosystem. It counts 496 hubs across 261 cities in 53 African nations as part of its network. NASENI, meanwhile, is a Nigerian government agency tasked with promoting and developing science, technology, and engineering infrastructure in the country.
The NASENI Innovation Hub will provide critical infrastructure, capacity building, mentorship, and resources to Nigerian innovators, entrepreneurs, and startups. This collaborative initiative is designed to nurture innovative ideas, drive industrialisation, and strengthen Nigeria’s competitive edge in the global tech ecosystem.
By offering acceleration support, the hub will enable young innovators to transform their ideas into viable and scalable businesses, enhancing job creation, technological exports, and economic productivity. Additionally, in an effort to create opportunities for knowledge exchange and funding, the hub will facilitate networking by establishing an ecosystem that connects innovators with key stakeholders.
“Our partnership with NASENI represents a significant step toward nurturing Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem. Together, we are not just creating an Innovation Hub – we are building a pipeline for groundbreaking ideas that will shape Nigeria’s future industries and foster economic growth. We believe this collaboration will play a key role in scaling innovative solutions that address local challenges and have a global impact,” said Nanko Madu, director of programmes at AfriLabs.
“At NASENI, we are committed to transforming Nigeria into a global leader in technology and industrialisation. The establishment of this innovation hub marks a pivotal step in fostering homegrown solutions, nurturing local talent, and creating a dynamic ecosystem that will drive sustainable development through science and engineering. We believe that by empowering innovators and providing the infrastructure they need, we can fast-track industrial growth and economic diversification for Nigeria’s future,” said Khalil Suleiman Halilu, EVC of NASENI.
The hub will be running several programmes to build and support the ecosystem, including a global innovation return programme for Nigerian researchers in top foreign universities, a programme to empower women in engineering, a FutureMakers programme to nurture young talent, an initiative for innovators developing solutions for public sector challenges, and an acceleration programme.
