Stakeholders in the technology space have called for speedy passage of the National Research and Innovation Fund (NRIF) Bill to provide sustainable financing for science and technology in the country.

The NRIC bill aims to establish a dedicated fund to boost scientific research, innovation, and investment in Nigeria, create a knowledge-based economy, and diversify funding away from reliance on annual budgetary appropriations.

The fund is to be implemented under the project titled “Strengthening UK–West Africa Science, Technology and Innovation Partnerships for Sustainable Development,” also known as the Sankore.

At the Stakeholders Consultation Workshop on Operationalization of Nigeria’s National Research and Innovation Fund (NRIF) organised by the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, Sheda Science and Technology Complex, SHESTCO, and UNESCO under the UK–West Africa Science, Technology and Innovation Partnerships for Sustainable Development (SANKORE Project) in Abuja, experts noted that the Bill, when passed into law, will advance Science, Technology, and Innovation in the country and called for effective establishment of institutional structures, and the implementation of the Five-Year Strategic Roadmap to position the NRIF as a transformative vehicle for economic diversification, inclusive growth, and national development.

Speaking at the event, the Director General , SHESTCO, Hon.  Magaji  Aliyu said that no nation develops without innovation, science and technology.

Aliyu noted that the bill if passed into law and the fund eventually established, will take the country to the next level and provide a legal backing of all the STI programmes in the country.

He said, “With this document coming into law, it means that all we are going to do in this ecosystem is going to be legal. The funding, the government structure, everything will be defined. And this is what you find everywhere in the world. If you look left, right and center, you find young innovators.  Nigeria has talent, but the ability to push this talent out, you know, this bill, this fund, will help us to bring them out.We are coming to a point where, rather than running, looking outside for capacities, we begin to look inwards”.

Aliyu who was a two-time member of the House of Representatives stated that the Bill has already been passed by the House of Representatives while efforts are being made to ensure that it is passed by the Senate and granted speedy assent by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

He said, “We have good people in the Senate and all this is part of the Renew Hope Agenda, I believe that Mr. President will sign it on the day that he comes across”.

On his part, the Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, Philip Ndiomu Ebiogeh observed that they are still working on the consultative processes and expressed hope that before the last quarter of the year, much ground must have been covered with anticipation of a quick passage of the National Assembly.

He said, “We have a Director General who understands the terrain , we are going to support him to ensure that no stone is left unturned. Even if it is a pebble, we have to turn it”

Also speaking, STI Consultant to UNESCO, Prof. Willie Siyanbola, explained that UNESCO, in collaboration with the UK Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) ,  initiated this project following the very thorough evaluation of the performance of the Nigerian STI policy 2012 and the approval of the revised version by the former president, Buhari, in 2022,.

He noted that a major gap that were identified including the activation of the National Research and Innovation Council, as well as the National Research and Innovation Fund stressing that the two policy instruments, in spite of their centrality, were not really brought to bear.

“For the country to be sufficiently encouraged to activate and to run with the idea of having the National Research and Innovation Fund, as well as giving serious empowerment to the National Research and Innovation Council, the country should be on an exponential transformation,  trying to bring out many of our people above the poverty line. l doubt if there is any country that managed to transform without the adoption of science, technology, and innovation channels”.

NRIC Bill be expedited in the Senate having been passed by House of Representatives , with a high-level advocacy strategy targeting the “Leadership of the Executive and National Assembly.” to secure legislative and executive buy-in for the seamless passage of the bill.

The NRIF shall operate under a Five-Year Strategy Roadmap (2026–2030), with 2-Year Quick Wins (2026–2027) targeting pilot funding in high-impact areas, including local vaccine production, climate-smart agriculture, and AI-driven digital innovation.

All NRIF grants shall undergo independent peer review, tracked via transparent digital management platforms, and linked to performance-based outcomes demonstrating tangible research-to-market impact while the qNRIF operational frameworks shall comply with international trade obligations, including WTO rules and AfCFTA provisions, while promoting indigenous technology under  Presidential Executive Order 5.

The first workshop which held in December 2025, under the theme “Building Partnerships for Sustainable Innovation Financing”, laid the foundation for NRIF operationalization. Participants reviewed the policy framework, established Thematic Working Groups across seven priority areas, and developed a draft National Policy Framework while defining sectoral priorities and monitoring approaches.

The Second Stakeholders’ Consultation workshop,  under the theme, “Towards the Operationalization of Nigeria’s National Research and Innovation Fund (NRIF): Harmonizing Thematic Priorities and Strategic Pathways”, focused on consolidating TWGs outputs and harmonizing thematic priorities. The workshop produced a draft consolidated NRIF framework covering governance, funding, and coordination, validated key recommendations, and outlined tasks for drafting the Five-Year Strategy Roadmap.

The third Stakeholders’ Consultation workshop, which held in February, 2026, with the theme, “Setting the Foundation and Defining Strategic Pillars for the Development of a Five-Year Strategy (2026–2030) for NRIF”, translated priorities into a functional execution plan.

Participants refined NRIF’s Vision, Mission, and Strategic Objectives, defined five strategic pillars, developed the Draft Five-Year Strategy and a Two-Year Quick-Wins Plan, outlined resource mobilization strategies, and endorsed the framework for final validation and executive presentation.