The Federal Government is planning to set up a National Design and Development Agency. The idea is to help local innovators build better products, get funding, and push them into the market.
Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, announced this on Monday, July 14, 2025, when he visited Innov8 Hub in Abuja.
He said the agency will bridge the gap between brilliant Nigerian ideas and real commercial success, both within the country and abroad.
“There are so many innovative Nigerians. Our job as the government is to meet you halfway and give you the opportunity you need to unleash that potential.”
“We want to move ideas from the bank of concepts to the market,” he added.
According to Dr. Alausa, the new agency will provide a space where innovators can submit their ideas and receive community-backed funding. This, he believes, will revamp Nigeria’s entire innovation ecosystem.
Helping Ideas Become Market-Ready
Dr. Alausa stressed that many local startups fail to scale because they lack the support to prepare their innovations for the real world.
He urged inventors to patent their creations and focus on moving them into the market quickly.
“You need to aggressively move these products to the market; there are unlimited opportunities in Nigeria waiting to be tapped.”
He pointed out that even a small number of successful projects could change lives across the country.
“Five to ten per cent of ideas, when brought to life, can change millions of lives. What you’re doing here is even more important, you’re focusing on real-life solutions we urgently need.”
This call is coming at a time when youth-led innovation is surging across Nigeria. But with limited investor interest and infrastructure, many ideas remain trapped in notebooks and pitches.
Is Nigeria finally building the right support system for its creative minds?
Innov8 Hub: A Growing Force in Innovation
The Minister commended Innov8 Hub, describing it as a key engine for turning imagination into real solutions. The centre trains inventors and supports product development and startup incubation.
He praised its role in agriculture and manufacturing and encouraged stronger partnerships among inventors, manufacturers, and funders.
Deputy General Manager of Innov8 Hub, Dr. Deji Ige, highlighted its success story. The hub has grown from 100 staff to 15 departments and has created 7,000 jobs over five years.
Four start-ups currently operating from its facility are expected to generate even more employment.
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