The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure is set to begin a roadshow in Abuja on Monday to mobilise staff of federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies to participate in the upcoming Inter-Agency Innovation Competition and Awards, an initiative aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem through collaboration across government.
The competition, which offers a total cash prize of N140 million, is designed to encourage public servants to develop practical, home-grown solutions that can support Nigeria’s industrialisation drive and address pressing socio-economic challenges, particularly in sectors that directly affect service delivery and business productivity.
According to a statement issued by the agency on Sunday, the roadshow will commence from the old Federal Secretariat in Area 1 and move through the main Federal Secretariat in the Central Business District, with stops at major MDAs within the axis. The exercise is expected to create awareness about the competition, explain participation requirements and highlight how innovation within the public sector can contribute to national development.
The agency said the roadshow will also provide a platform for MDA staff to interact directly with officials overseeing the competition, receive guidance on developing and submitting entries, and better understand how science, engineering and technology can be applied to everyday governance challenges.
Speaking on the initiative, the competition’s chairman noted that Nigeria’s push for industrial development depends largely on nurturing local innovation and ensuring that creative ideas within the civil service are not ignored. He stressed that MDAs are home to a large pool of untapped talent capable of generating solutions that can improve efficiency, reduce costs and stimulate economic activity.
He explained that the competition invites MDAs to propose innovations across key sectors such as health, agriculture, education and infrastructure, with an emphasis on solutions that improve service delivery, support small businesses and enhance the quality of life for Nigerians. Such innovations, he added, could also create opportunities for local manufacturers, startups and MSMEs to scale through government adoption.
The agency urged MDAs to take advantage of the platform to showcase their staff’s creativity and collaborate more closely in advancing technology-driven governance. It added that the initiative aligns with the federal government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises talent development, industrial growth and a more resilient economy powered by innovation.
By encouraging public servants to contribute ideas that can translate into real-world applications, the agency said the competition represents a step towards building a more modern, productive and industrialised Nigeria.
