General News
FG Urges States to Support Innovation Hubs, Startups, Technology Commercialization
By Abdul-Ganiyy Akanbi
The Federal Government has intensified efforts to transform scientific research in Nigeria into commercially viable products and enterprises, as stakeholders gathered in Abuja for a strategic meeting on the commercialization of research outcome
s.
The meeting, convened by the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, brought together state Commissioners for Science, Technology and Innovation (STI), heads of agencies, and industry stakeholders to chart a roadmap for converting research findings into economic value.
Delivering the keynote address, the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr. Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh, said Nigeria must move beyond producing academic research to converting knowledge into products, services and businesses that can drive national development.
He noted that despite significant investments in research and development across universities, polytechnics and research institutes, many innovations remain unused.
“Too many valuable research outputs remain on laboratory shelves, in technical reports, or in academic journals without translating into products, services, or enterprises that can transform lives,” the minister said.
According to him, countries that dominate the global economy are those that have mastered the commercialization of scientific discoveries.
“Economic power today is defined not just by natural resources but by the ability to convert knowledge into value. Nigeria must bridge the gap between research outputs and market outcomes,” he added.
Dr. Udeh announced the establishment of a committee to develop a National Policy on Commercialization of Research and Development Results and Inventions, which will serve as a blueprint to coordinate efforts between federal and state governments.
He stressed that state governments play a critical role in building innovation ecosystems, noting that industries, startups and research institutions operate largely at the sub-national level.
“Innovation ecosystems are built not only at the federal level but within states where industries operate, SMEs grow and local economies evolve,” he said.
The minister also called for innovative funding models to support research commercialization, including Public–Private Partnerships (PPPs), venture capital investment, state-level innovation funds and industry-sponsored research programmes.
“Public funding alone cannot drive this transformation. We must explore partnerships and create investor confidence through transparency, regulatory clarity and protection of intellectual property,” he stated.
Earlier in his welcome remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mr. Philip Ndiomu Ebiogeh, emphasized the need to convert research knowledge into economic value.
“Nigeria cannot afford to remain a nation where research findings gather dust on shelves. We must deliberately build systems that support patenting, prototyping, incubation, venture financing and market access,” Ebiogeh said.
He noted that state commissioners occupy a strategic position in bridging the gap between laboratory discoveries and industrial application because of their proximity to local innovation ecosystems.
The Director-General of the National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI), Dr. Kazeem Kolawole Raji, also highlighted ongoing initiatives to nurture young innovators, including the NextGen Innovation Challenge, which encourages Nigerian youths to develop business-driven innovations.
Dr. Raji disclosed that the competition attracted about 3,000 innovative entries within three weeks last year, while over 1,000 applications have already been received for the 2026 edition.
“Our goal is to ensure that Nigerian youths become employers of labour. If each innovation creates jobs for 20 or 30 people, imagine the multiplier effect on employment and GDP,” he said.
He added that the programme adopts a technology readiness level framework to assess innovations and eliminate bureaucratic bottlenecks that often hinder young innovators.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner for Innovation, Science and Technology in Kogi State, Dr. Helen Adeniyi, commended the federal government for convening the meeting and pledged the state’s continued collaboration.
“We have the human capability, the political will and the natural resources to leverage innovation. Kogi State will continue to work with the federal ministry to support initiatives that promote research commercialization,” she said.
The strategic meeting is expected to produce a national roadmap with timelines, responsibilities and measurable targets aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem, boosting local manufacturing and creating sustainable jobs.
Dr. Udeh urged stakeholders to ensure that the discussions translate into concrete actions.
“Let us move from potential to performance, from ideas to industry, and from research to revenue,” the minister said.
General News
Kiloshele lauds NANS Leadership Under Babatunde For peaceful protest for release of Abducted Students, Teachers of Oyo State
By David Owei
A forefront NAUS Presidential Aspirant, Comr. David Aladesanmi popularly referred as Mr. Kiloshele, has lauded the President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), *Akinteye Babatunde Afeez GCNS*, for his exemplary leadership and unwavering commitment to the welfare of Nigerian students.
He particularly commended the *NANS President* for peacefully mobilizing and coordinating efforts towards the abducted students and teachers in Orire Local Government Area. According to Mr. Kiloshele, the mature and responsible approach adopted by the student body under Akinteye’s leadership demonstrates the power of unity, dialogue, and constructive engagement in addressing national challenges.
Mr. Kiloshele further praised NANS for its consistent advocacy for student safety and security across educational institutions nationwide. He emphasized the need for all stakeholders, including government agencies and security operatives, to strengthen security measures in schools to safeguard students, teachers, and learning environments.
He called for sustained collaboration between student leaders, educational authorities, and security agencies to ensure that schools remain safe havens for learning and development, while applauding NANS, NAUS & sister bodies for standing firmly in defense of Nigerian students.
“Leadership is best measured by service, courage, and results. He conclusively, called upon media agencies to give this movement a worldwide publication as days is given to return our students, teachers back to thier schools and make Nigeria safe & safer for our education.
General News
Nigeria’s milk self-sufficiency will be won at states, LGs, not in Abuja -Expert
By Abdul-Ganiyy Akanbi
Nigeria’s journey to dairy self-sufficiency must shift from federal policy documents to deliberate action by states and local governments, a member of the Presidential Livestock Reforms Implementation Committee, PLRIC, and Acting Director of the TETFUND Centre of Excellence on Dairy Research and Development, ATBU Bauchi, Prof. Demo Kalla has said.
Kalla spoke during a panel session on “Mainstreaming Dairy Development Policy at the Sub-national Level for Self-sufficiency: Opportunities, Challenges and Way Forward” as part of activities to mark the 2026 World Milk Day.
The session was moderated by a Radio Nigeria presenter Rita Ene Okwanihe while other panelists included Mr Snorri Sigurdsson, Head of Raw Milk Production, Arla Foods Nigeria; Dr Ishaq Bello, Special Adviser to the Minister of Livestock Development; Mr Brighton Ochieng, Chief Technical Officer, Promasidor Nigeria; and Hon. Adamu Mammagi Abdullahi, Commissioner for Livestock Development, Niger State.
Setting the context, Kalla said mainstreaming dairy development at the sub-national level means making dairy a deliberate part of state and local government planning, budgeting, investment promotion and rural economic strategy.
“In practical terms, it means moving dairy development from being viewed as a federal livestock initiative to becoming a priority economic sector owned and driven by states and local governments,” he stated.
He described it as “the missing link between Nigeria’s enormous livestock potential and the realization of dairy self-sufficiency.”
“Given that milk is produced in communities, not in policy documents, the success of Nigeria’s dairy transformation agenda will ultimately depend on actions taken at the state and local levels,” Kalla added.
He urged states and local government areas to domesticate the National Dairy Policy and create frameworks to attract investors, while promoting milk as a “super food for nutritional security.”
On the role of academia, Kalla said universities, research institutions and extension services are “the backbone of sustainable dairy development” because they generate knowledge, adapt technologies and build human capacity.
“Our mandate is to solve immediate local problems at the sub-national level. They must become active partners in the dairy transformation agenda by supporting state governments, dairy cooperatives, processors, and producers with evidence-based solutions,” he said.
He listed three immediate priorities: demand-driven research, technology transfer through demonstration farms and digital platforms, and capacity building and skills development.
“The dairy industry we desire will not emerge from investments in infrastructure alone. It will be built on knowledge, innovation, skills, and partnerships,” Kalla stressed.
Announcing a practical step, the expert said the Dairy Research and Development Centre, DRDC, stands ready to serve as a national platform for dairy science research, capacity building, innovation and knowledge sharing.
He called on the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development to strengthen multi-stakeholder collaboration to accelerate Nigeria’s path to milk self-sufficiency, improved nutrition and rural prosperity.
Earlier in his goodwill message, the Special Adviser to the President on Livestock Development, Prof. Attahiru Jega, said dairy development is a strategic economic enterprise that can create jobs, improve nutrition and reduce Nigeria’s import dependence.
Jega, who is also Co-Chairman of the Presidential Livestock Reforms Implementation Committee, PLRIC, said
this year’s theme is “Celebrating Women Dairy Farmers: Promoting Fresh Milk Consumption for a Healthy Nation,” stressing that it recognizes the pivotal role women play in milk production, processing, marketing and value addition across Nigeria.
He noted that the United Nations has designated 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer, IYWF 2026, underscoring women’s contributions to food security and economic growth.
“For Nigeria’s dairy sector, it reinforces the imperative of empowering women dairy farmers through improved access to productive assets, finance, technology, skills development, markets, and leadership opportunities,” he said.
The presidential adviser added that under President Bola Tinubu, the ongoing livestock reforms have placed dairy development at the heart of efforts to transform the livestock economy.
According to him, promoting fresh milk consumption is both a public health and economic imperative, saying “every litre of locally produced and consumed milk strengthens domestic value chains, creates opportunities for farmers and processors, improves household incomes, and contributes to national food and nutrition security.”
He said PLRIC remains committed to sustainable dairy development through policy reforms, investment promotion, breed improvement, pasture development, One Health, infrastructure expansion and stronger public-private partnerships.
Jega called on state governments, development partners, financial institutions, processors and investors to collaborate in mainstreaming dairy development at the sub-national level.
He concluded that a competitive dairy subsector will create wealth, employment and deliver nutritious fresh milk for a healthier and prosperous Nigeria.
General News
Tinubu commissions Jahi CNG Station as Rolling Energy leads clean fuel drive
By Olugbenga Salami
President Bola Tinubu has commissioned a state-of-the-art Compressed Natural Gas Daughter Booster Station in Jahi, Abuja, in a fresh push to reduce Nigeria’s dependence on costly petroleum products and unlock the value of its gas reserves.
Tinubu, who was by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Gas, Ekperikpe Ekpo, described the facility as a centrepiece of the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
He said the agenda places domestic gas utilisation at the heart of Nigeria’s industrial and economic future.
Nigeria holds about 215 trillion cubic feet of proven gas reserves. Yet for decades, much of the resource has been exported while Nigerians grapple with expensive and polluting fossil fuels.
The Tinubu administration is now moving to reverse that trend. The Jahi commissioning is one of four gas infrastructure projects unveiled simultaneously nationwide.
Similar facilities were launched by Ibile Oil and Gas and Portland Energy in Lagos and Owerri respectively.
“This facility marks another important milestone in our collective drive to deepen gas utilisation, expand access to cleaner energy solutions, and strengthen Nigeria’s gas value chain,” Ekpo declared at the event.
At the forefront of the transformation is Rolling Energy Limited, the private firm behind the Jahi station which developed the project in partnership with the Midstream and Downstream Gas Infrastructure Fund, MDGIF.
Chairman of Rolling Energy, Mubarak Umar Dambata, said the company’s footprint extends beyond Abuja.
He disclosed that Rolling Energy is rolling out CNG mother stations, daughter stations and Liquefied Natural Gas facilities in Kaduna, Kano and Borno states.
The firm has also partnered with the Presidential Initiative on CNG and Electric Vehicles to convert over 8,000 vehicles to gas-powered systems.
The initiative is designed to translate policy into direct savings for commuters, tricycle operators and businesses.
The Jahi facility has a sales capacity of 1,000 Standard Cubic Metres, SCM, per hour.
It features two CNG tube skids with a combined storage capacity of 17,000 SCM.
The station also houses a Mass Conversion Centre that can convert up to 20 vehicles and 25 tricycles daily.
Since commercial operations began, it has been serving 350–400 vehicles per day.
Projected capacity is to serve more than 1,000 CNG vehicles and 100 trucks daily across the FCT and surrounding regions.
Chairman of the Presidential Initiative on CNG and Electric Vehicles, Ismahil Ahmed, said the removal of fuel subsidies created urgency for alternative energy.
“CNG offers a cleaner and more economically viable option,” Ahmed argued. He urged investors to move quickly into a market where demand for gas infrastructure is rising.
Presidential Adviser Sunday Dare said the administration has commissioned 25 projects nationwide to mark its third anniversary, with clean energy and gas infrastructure featuring prominently.
With regulatory backing from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority and financial support from MDGIF, officials say the foundation for a CNG-powered Nigeria is now in place.
For truck drivers, tricycle operators and factory owners, the promise is lower costs, cleaner air and greater energy reliability.
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