The Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr. Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh (SAN), has called for deeper collaboration between the Federal Government and state governments to drive innovation-led growth, saying science, technology and innovation remain central to Nigeria’s ambition of building a $1 trillion economy.
Speaking at the Plateau State Science, Technology and Innovation Festival (PLASSTIFEST) 2026 in Jos, Udeh said achieving the objectives of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda would require sustained investments in research, innovation, technology development and commercialisation across all tiers of government.
The minister said the Federal Government’s innovation strategy is anchored on the National Science, Technology and Innovation Policy 2022, which seeks to transform Nigeria from a resource-dependent economy into a knowledge-driven one powered by entrepreneurship, digital transformation and technological advancement.
According to him, research must move beyond academic institutions and laboratories to deliver practical economic value.
“Nigeria must move beyond the era where valuable research outcomes remain confined to laboratories and academic journals without creating tangible economic impact,” he said.
To bridge that gap, Udeh highlighted the Energize Commercialization Now (ECoN) Initiative, the Federal Government’s flagship programme designed to move innovations from laboratories to the marketplace.
He explained that the initiative identifies commercially viable innovations, links innovators with investors and industry players, strengthens intellectual property management and supports incubation and scale-up opportunities.
The minister also disclosed that the ministry is advancing plans to establish the National Research and Innovation Development Fund (NRIDF), a financing framework intended to provide sustainable support for research, innovation, prototyping and commercialisation.
He said countries that have successfully built innovation-driven economies achieved such growth through dedicated funding mechanisms and strong institutional support for research and development.
Turning to the role of states, Udeh urged subnational governments to establish Innovation Councils, Research Commercialisation Offices, Innovation Funds and Technology Transfer Platforms to attract investment and stimulate local innovation ecosystems.
He identified Plateau State as one of the states with significant potential to deploy science and technology in agriculture, mining, renewable energy and digital transformation.
The minister also advocated stronger partnerships among government institutions, universities, researchers, industry players and development partners to accelerate innovation-driven job creation and economic growth.
He commended Governor Caleb Mutfwang for hosting PLASSTIFEST 2026, describing the event as evidence of Plateau State’s commitment to innovation-led development.
Udeh reaffirmed the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology’s readiness to work with state governments to deepen research commercialisation and strengthen innovation ecosystems nationwide.
He urged stakeholders to convert discussions from the festival into concrete projects and investments capable of positioning Nigeria as a leading knowledge-based economy driven by science, technology and innovation.