The Federal Government has announced plans to establish a National Design and Development Agency aimed at supporting inventors in transforming ideas into market-ready solutions.
This was disclosed by the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, CON, during a strategic visit to Innov8 Hub in Abuja, a renowned center for fostering indigenous innovations.
Dr. Alausa emphasized that while Nigerians are among the most creative people in the world, many lack the structural support needed to turn ideas into scalable businesses.
He outlined new government-backed initiatives to strengthen innovation development, including the creation of a National Research and Development Fund Agency, which will provide grants for high-impact projects and facilitate linkages among innovators, investors, and manufacturers.
Touring the Innov8 Hub, the Minister interacted with various made-in-Nigeria technologies such as cassava shredders, dryers, and modular poultry pens. He applauded the Hub’s efforts in agricultural advancement, rural development, and youth employment.
Particularly noteworthy was the Poultry Empowerment Programme, which he said has the potential to revolutionize smallholder farming by promoting prefab pens that increase productivity and boost food security.
Dr. Alausa also stressed the importance of sustainability and urged innovation centers to look beyond government subsidies. “Innovation must be sustainable. From subsidies, we must move to self-sufficiency,” he remarked.
The minister commended TETFund and other stakeholders for their support and reaffirmed President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to unlocking Nigeria’s vast human capital through strategic investment in education, research, and innovation.
