By Mustapha Usman
Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, has said that the country must transition from exporting raw materials to building systems that fund, scale, and commercialise innovation for national development and global competitiveness.
Mrs Tinubu stated this when she officially launched the Energise Commercialisation Now (ECoN) initiative in Kano on Thursday.
According to the First Lady, Nigeria is rich in creativity, with groundbreaking ideas emerging daily from universities, research institutions, innovation hubs, and its youthful population.
She noted that despite these limitations, Nigerian innovators continue to excel globally, particularly in sectors such as fintech and enterprise development.
She described the programme as a timely and strategic step toward strengthening the country’s innovation ecosystem and accelerating economic diversification.
This, she said, would drive enterprise development, create jobs, and boost the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
She also stressed the importance of inclusivity, calling for greater participation of women and youth in the innovation ecosystem.
“At this juncture, to the glory of God, I officially launch Energise Commercialisation Now for the benefit of our entire nation, starting from the Northwest and extending to all geopolitical zones,”
In his remarks, Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, described the selection of Kano as host for the first combined national launch and donor development deployment of ECoN as a vote of confidence in the state’s readiness to lead innovation-driven transformation in Northern Nigeria.
He said the initiative represents a strategic intervention aimed at bridging the long-standing gap between research, innovation, and the marketplace.
He highlighted ongoing efforts by the Kano State Government to strengthen digital governance through the establishment of the Kano State Information Technology Development Agency, expansion of ICT infrastructure, and revitalisation of science and technical education.
Presenting the concept, the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Kingsley Udeh, described the launch as a major milestone in repositioning science, technology, and innovation as drivers of economic growth.
He said Nigeria has long produced high-quality research and innovation, but many outcomes remain uncommercialised due to limited access to markets and financing.
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