Federal Government to launch National Design and Development Agency to support Nigerian innovators in refining ideas, accessing funding, and reaching local and global markets.
The initiative was revealed by the Minister of Education during a visit to Innov8 Hub in Abuja on July 14, 2025. The agency, once operational, will act as a key link between innovation and commercial success, helping entrepreneurs transition their ideas from concept to viable market-ready solutions.
He emphasized the government’s commitment to building an enabling environment for innovation by investing in human capital and entrepreneurship. According to him, “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.”
The proposed agency will also introduce a community-informed financing model, allowing innovators to pitch their concepts for support. This is expected to transform Nigeria’s innovation landscape by giving more entrepreneurs access to funding and mentorship.
Highlighting the major hurdles faced by startups in the country, the Minister noted that a lack of support and market readiness prevents many innovations from scaling. He encouraged Nigerian inventors to patent their products and take aggressive steps to commercialize their innovations, noting that even a small percentage of successful ideas can impact millions of lives.
He added, “You need to aggressively move these products to the market; there are unlimited opportunities in Nigeria waiting to be tapped. Five to ten per cent of ideas, when brought to life, can change millions of lives.”
During the visit, the Minister commended Innov8 Hub for its work in supporting inventors and startups through training, prototyping, and incubation. He acknowledged the hub’s impact, particularly in agricultural processing and small-scale manufacturing, and called for stronger collaboration among innovators, manufacturers, and financial institutions.
The Deputy General Manager of Innov8 Hub, Dr. Deji Ige, presented an overview of the hub’s progress, revealing that it has grown to 15 departments in five years, incubated numerous startups, and created 7,000 jobs across the country. The hub, which began with 100 staff members, now hosts four startups within its facility, with more expected to emerge and drive employment generation.
The launch of the National Design and Development Agency marks a major step in Nigeria’s efforts to strengthen its innovation ecosystem and unlock the country’s creative and economic potential.
