NASENI encourages young innovators to develop marketable solutions for Nigeria's challenges
The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure NASENI has called on young Nigerian innovators to create practical and marketable solutions for the country's challenges. Khalil Halilu, the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NASENI, made this appeal as 60 young innovators began the virtual hackathon phase of the FutureMakers by NASENI innovation program. Halilu emphasized the need to support young innovators with infrastructure, mentorship, and platforms to transform ideas into products, aiming to shift Nigeria from a consumer to a producer economy. The four-day virtual hackathon, running from August 17 to 20, involves participants developing prototypes for regional issues. For example, the North-West cohort is addressing gender-related barriers to innovation, North-Central is focusing on food security, North-East on conflict and security, South-West on the rising cost of education, South-South on academia-industry connections, and South-East on children's schooling versus trading. Busola Beckley Perez-Folayan, Hub Manager of NASENI Innovation Hub, stated that the regional structure ensures relevance to local communities and the virtual format expands access. All 60 participants will proceed to FutureMakers Pitch Sessions from August 24 to 26, where they will present their solutions to judges and industry leaders. The top three innovators in each geopolitical zone will receive N1.5 million, N1 million, and N500,000 respectively. Zonal winners
