Innovation in Action: A Transformative Week in Nigeria’s Thriving Ecosystems

Last week marked an inspiring journey across Nigeria, where Dr Nee-Joo Teh, Head of Innovate UK’s Global Alliance, and his dynamic team in Nigeria (Joshua Adedeji, Sharon Rehoboth, and Chidubem Ejezie), along with key partners, celebrated the country’s vibrant innovation landscape. From the bustling metropolis of Lagos to the youthful and dynamic innovation ecosystem of Ekiti State, the visit highlighted the immense progress being made in fostering sustainable growth and technological advancement.

The week began in Ekiti State, where the delegation met with the latest cohorts of the Young Innovators Programme (YIP). Their innovative ideas set the stage for the Ekiti State Innovation Summit 2024 (#EkitiInnovationSummit2024), an event organised by the Ministry of Innovation, Science, and Digital Economy (MISDE) under the visionary leadership of Seun Fakuade.

As a partner through Global Alliance Africa since 2020, the UK delegation celebrated the remarkable growth of Ekiti State’s innovation ecosystem. During the summit, Place-Based Innovation (PBI) initiatives were shared, with the delegation joined by partners and programme beneficiaries in a panel discussion.

The four-year collaboration between the UK and Ekiti State has led to measurable growth and prosperity, a sentiment echoed by ecosystem leaders such as Prof. Olaposi Omotuyi, Dr Odunola Olabintan, Wole Odetayo, and Bamidele J.F. Additionally, the summit provided a platform for engaging with commissioners and innovation leaders from eight other Nigerian states, fostering cross-regional collaboration.

The journey continued in Lagos, where the delegation connected with both current and prospective partners. Key highlights included:

• Berger Paints Nigeria Plc.: Advancing sustainable manufacturing practices under the leadership of Alaba Fagun and Celestine Aruoture.
• Hinckley Associates Nigeria: With support from Innovate UK’s Global Alliance Africa (GAA) through the Open Innovation Intervention, we successfully raised $5 million to establish a battery recycling plant in Ogun State. This milestone highlights how GAA’s Open Innovation initiative empowers businesses to transform technical challenges into valuable commercial opportunities.
• Tolaram Nigeria: Launching a promising new collaboration to further innovation.

Inspirational meetings also included organisations and innovators driving change in Nigeria’s creative and sustainability sectors, such as:

• UNDP Innovation Centre, represented by William Tsuma, a hub for transformative ideas.
• Afrikstabel Textiles Production, led by Ifebuche Madu, spotlighting innovation in textiles and Designers Consociate, under Zara Odu, blending creativity with sustainability.
• Impact Hub Lagos, a thriving innovation space led by Idowu Akinde.
• Green Deal Chemicals and Recycling, spearheaded by Akintayo Adisa, championing environmental sustainability.

The visit underscored the tremendous potential of Nigeria’s innovation landscape. From Ekiti’s youthful ingenuity to Lagos’ industry leadership, the progress reflects the transformative power of strategic partnerships and investment.

This impact has been made possible through the unwavering support of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and Innovate UK, which continue to drive the success of Global Alliance Africa initiatives.

As the week concluded, the delegation expressed optimism for the future of Nigeria’s innovation story, reaffirming their commitment to nurturing these ecosystems and empowering the next generation of changemakers.

About Global Alliance Africa

Innovate UK Global Alliance Africa will build new and stronger UK-African partnerships to maximise the creation of inclusive market access, funding and investment opportunities through innovation knowledge transfer. Innovate UK Global Alliance Africa is a six-year project funded by UK International Development through GCRF and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).

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Webpage https://iuk-business-connect.org.uk/programme/africa/