The Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, Dr. Kingsley Udeh, has commended Enugu State for leading technological growth in Nigeria, assuring participants at the 2026 Enugu Tech Festival (ETF) that their ideas and research outputs will be commercialised to generate income.
Speaking at the close of the four-day festival, held from February 24 to 27, 2026, at the International Conference Centre, Enugu, Udeh said the event reflects Nigeria’s transition from technological dependence to home-grown innovation and solution-driven development.
According to him, the festival demonstrates the country’s growing capacity to develop indigenous solutions powered by local talent and creativity.
He praised the Enugu State Government for integrating technology into governance and everyday life, highlighting initiatives such as the Command and Control Centre, which he said has strengthened security in the state.
He also cited the digitisation and automation of the judicial system, the adoption of e-governance in the state’s public service, and the establishment of Smart Green Schools as evidence of Enugu’s leadership in innovation.
Udeh disclosed that the Federal Government, under its Renewed Hope Agenda, is prioritising the commercialisation of research and innovation.
He stressed that the festival goes beyond networking and exhibitions, noting that viable ideas presented at the event will be developed into market-ready solutions.
“This programme is not just about gathering people together and getting them excited about technology,” he said.
“The Federal Government is already working on Commercialization of Research and competitive outcomes ensuring that the outcomes get into the market and end source of living and provide solutions to the market.”
The minister assured participants that innovations emerging from the festival would receive support to move from concept to commercial application. He added that Nigeria is building an ecosystem that connects research to the marketplace, turning innovation into economic opportunity.