The Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh, said

‘Energise Commercialisation Now’ a Federal government empowerment initiative targeted at commercialising research outputs and innovations across Nigeria, will be launched on Thursday in Kano.

The Minister disclosed this at a press briefing in Kano on Wednesday ahead of the official launch of the North West Zone.

The programme, tagged Energise Commercialisation Now (ECN), is a federal government initiative developed in collaboration with the Office of the First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu.

Udeh said the initiative is designed to bridge the gap between research, innovation and market viability by transforming ideas from Nigerian institutions into commercially viable products and services.

He noted that while Nigeria is rich in innovative ideas and research outputs, many remain unused due to lack of investment and structured support to move them from laboratories to the marketplace.

“This initiative is aimed at ensuring that research outcomes and innovations do not remain on the shelves but are transformed into solutions that generate revenue, create jobs and contribute to national development,” he said.

According to him, the programme will connect innovators, researchers and inventors with investors, enabling the development of products that can drive economic growth.

He added that more than 1,000 entries of viable innovations and research outputs have already been collated from across the country, with Kano State leading in the number of submissions.

The minister explained that the launch in Kano would be followed by technical sessions on April 24 and 25 involving the seven states of the North-West, after which the initiative would be extended to other geopolitical zones.

He said the programme would also involve the creation of a national platform where verified research outputs and innovations would be uploaded for access by investors and stakeholders.

Udeh described the initiative as a major step towards promoting entrepreneurship, industrial growth and technological advancement, adding that it would also enhance Nigeria’s competitiveness in science and innovation.

He commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for supporting the initiative, as well as the Kano State Government for providing the necessary logistics and support for hosting the event.

The minister also disclosed that the First Lady is expected to lead other dignitaries, including governors and development partners, at the launch.

He said international organisations such as the World Intellectual Property Organisation are also expected to participate in the programme.

Udeh emphasised that the initiative is not a one-off event but a long-term programme aimed at building a sustainable ecosystem for innovation-driven development in Nigeria.

He urged stakeholders, including the private sector and development partners, to support the initiative to ensure its success.