The National Policy Advocacy Centre (NPAC) of the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) has convened key stakeholders across Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem to advance strategies for commercialising research and innovation as a catalyst for sustainable industrial growth and economic transformation.
The high-level webinar, themed “From Lab to Market: Driving Nigeria’s Industrial Transformation through Research Commercialization,” brought together policymakers, researchers, academia, government agencies, manufacturers, financial institutions, innovators, development partners and private sector leaders to identify practical pathways for translating research outcomes into commercially viable products and services capable of creating jobs, attracting investment and strengthening Nigeria’s industrial competitiveness.
Declaring the webinar open, the 2nd Deputy President of ACCI and Chairman of NPAC, Dr. Aliyu Idi Hong, observed that although Nigeria is endowed with exceptional research talent and innovative capacity, the country continues to grapple with a wide gap between research discoveries and commercial application. He called for stronger collaboration among government, academia, industry, investors and development partners to build a robust innovation ecosystem that promotes technology transfer, protects intellectual property, mobilises investment and scales indigenous innovations for national development.
Delivering the keynote address on behalf of the Director-General/Chief Executive Officer of the National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI), Engr. Dr. Kazeem Kolawole Raji, the Director of Procurement, Mr. Tukura Zakaria, emphasised that Nigeria’s economic prosperity depends on its ability to convert research into market-ready products and successful enterprises.
He described technology incubation as the critical bridge connecting research with industry by providing mentorship, business support, market access and strategic partnerships that enable innovators to commercialise their ideas. He further highlighted NBTI’s sustained efforts in promoting indigenous innovation through its nationwide Technology Incubation Centres and youth-focused entrepreneurship programmes.
Dr. Raji called for increased investment in technology incubation, improved access to finance, stronger intellectual property protection and greater support for young innovators, stressing that these measures would position “Made in Nigeria” as a globally competitive brand synonymous with quality and innovation.
In his welcome address, delivered on behalf of the Director General of ACCI, Mr. Agabaidu Jideani, the Executive Director of NPAC, Dr. Chidiebere Onwumere, reaffirmed the Chamber’s commitment to promoting private sector-led industrialisation through evidence-based policy advocacy and strategic partnerships. He noted that the webinar forms part of ACCI’s broader initiative to strengthen industry-research collaboration and lay the foundation for the proposed National Forum on Commercialising Research and Innovation for Sustainable Industrial Growth.
The webinar featured presentations and panel discussions involving representatives of the National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI), National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP), Bank of Industry (BOI), Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), African University of Science and Technology (AUST), as well as other research institutions and innovation stakeholders.
Discussions underscored the urgent need to align academic research with industry priorities, strengthen technology transfer mechanisms, improve access to innovation financing and establish institutional frameworks that reward research commercialisation alongside academic publications. Participants identified weak industry-research linkages, inadequate funding, fragmented innovation ecosystems, limited commercialisation incentives and insufficient intellectual property protection as key obstacles to translating research into market-ready solutions.
Stakeholders advocated stronger partnerships among universities, research institutes, manufacturers, government agencies, investors and development partners to develop commercially viable innovations capable of creating jobs, reducing import dependence and enhancing Nigeria’s global competitiveness. They also emphasised the need for clear institutional intellectual property policies, expanded incubation and technology transfer platforms, increased private sector participation in defining research priorities and stronger financing mechanisms for innovation-driven enterprises.
The National Board for Technology Incubation announced its forthcoming NextGen Innovation Showcase scheduled for August 6, 2026, while the Bank of Industry reaffirmed its commitment to supporting strategic partnerships that promote innovation-led industrial development.
At the close of the webinar, participants resolved to sustain the momentum through broader stakeholder engagements. Dr. Hong announced plans for NPAC to convene a national forum involving research institutions, universities, government agencies, manufacturers, investors and development partners to develop a coordinated roadmap for research commercialisation. He also directed the NPAC Secretariat to prepare a comprehensive report capturing the webinar’s key deliberations and recommendations to guide future policy advocacy and implementation.
The webinar concluded with a renewed commitment by stakeholders to transform Nigerian research into wealth-creating enterprises, deepen industry-academia collaboration and position innovation as a major driver of sustainable industrialisation, economic diversification and inclusive national development.
