NBTI Director Predicts BRICS Membership Will Boost Nigerian Innovation’s Global Reach

The National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI) director-general, Kazeem Raji, claims that Nigeria’s membership in BRICS offers local inventors “unprecedented” access to international markets and direct connections to a bloc that accounts for nearly 40% of the world’s population and trillions of dollars in trade.

Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa are the members of the influential developing economy coalition known as BRICS. The bloc has been progressively rising in international renown, providing developing countries with a forum for political and economic collaboration.

Nigeria joined the group as a partner nation in January.

At the “National showcase: Nextgen innovation challenge 2025” in Abuja on Wednesday, Raji gave a speech.

The National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI) established the Nextgen Innovation Challenge 2025, which is run by UKALD and aims to find, assist, and highlight Nigeria’s most promising innovators in key industries.

According to him, the innovation challenge “sent a message loud and clear” that Nigeria is leading the way and not merely catching up.

Every submission and every concept is a vote of confidence in the future we are creating—a future written by Nigerians, for Nigeria, and for a world that is in dire need of fresh perspectives, Raji continued.

The national showcase of the NextGen Innovation Challenge 2025, he explained, is a revolutionary platform designed to showcase Nigerian talent and bring indigenous solutions to the world’s attention.

“Igniting Indigenous Ingenuity: Nigerian Solutions, Global Impact” is our National Showcase theme, and it perfectly sums up this event. He stated, “It is more than just a catchphrase.”

“It is a bold, unwavering, and determined proclamation that the moment for Nigeria to lead with innovation has come.

Let me express my gratitude for His Excellency’s visionary leadership. Bola Ahmed, the president

With his program for renewed hope, Tinubu, GCFR, forges a daring route from reliance to innovation and from consumption to production.

Under the visionary leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, Nigeria is undertaking a bold and purposeful transition, anchored by the Nigeria First Policy, the Rekindled Hope Agenda, and now, Nigeria’s historic membership in the BRICS economic alliance.

“These are platforms, not just partnerships and policies, aimed at empowering a new era of innovation-led development, enhancing our domestic talent, and fortifying our sovereignty.”

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You, the trailblazers, are the living evidence that Nigeria’s most valuable asset lies not underground but inside its citizens.

Local solutions for regional and worldwide problems should be given priority, according to Nigeria’s first policy.

“It is a confirmation that Nigerian innovators should hold leadership positions, Nigerian ideas are important, and Nigerian products are valuable.” The environment in which you presently work is being purposefully shaped to your advantage, with legislative changes, development funding, and government assistance all geared toward empowering indigenous inventors, builders, thinkers, and artists.

“At the same time, Nigeria’s participation in BRICS gives you access to globally unheard-of markets, connecting you to a multilateral bloc that together account for over 40% of the world’s population and trillions of dollars in investment and trade flows.

“This is your pass to new collaborations with other innovators in emerging economies, new connections, new funding sources, and new export prospects.”

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“Innovators from Nigeria have ideas to revolutionize industries.”
According to Uche Nnaji, minister of innovation, science, and technology, Nigerian innovators offer life-changing ideas, thus the private sector and international organizations should invest in them.

You should invest in these innovators, I implore you. You’re just seeing a small portion of Nigeria’s potential,” he remarked.

In addition to ideas, these young people have blueprints, scalable products, and solutions that have the power to revolutionize entire sectors and change people’s lives.

Nnaji stated that the challenge got more than 3,000 innovation entries from the 36 states of the federation as well as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

“74 finalists have emerged from this amazing pool of talent—each one a testament to the innovation, bravery, and brilliance that define the Nigerian spirit,” he continued.

He stated that under the federal government’s renewed hope agenda, innovation is vital to national growth and governance.

“To cut down on red tape and create opportunities for funding, mentorship, and market access, we are investing in digital transformation, increasing access to science and technology education, and reorganizing our innovation ecosystem,” the minister stated.

Today, the tangible results of that vision are being witnessed. With innovations in clean energy, agritech, fintech, edtech, artificial intelligence, and deep tech, our youthful innovators are demonstrating that Nigeria is not only a consumer of technology, but also a producer of it.

He restated his ministry’s dedication to expanding assistance for idea-to-market transitions and bolstering innovation hubs throughout the nation.

Tinubu made the statement during Saturday’s 17th BRICS conference that low-income and emerging economies should be included in global financial institutions and treated fairly.