The Federal Government has launched a new push to commercialise Nigeria’s research and innovation ecosystem with the rollout of the Energise Commercialisation Now (ECoN) programme in Kano, positioning the initiative as a central pillar in the country’s transition to a technology-driven economy.
The programme, led by the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology (FMIST) under Minister Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh, is being implemented in collaboration with the Kano State Government and key research and innovation agencies across the North-West.
ECoN targets commercialisation gap in Nigeria’s innovation pipeline
The ECoN initiative, according to the Ministry, is addressing longstanding structural barriers that have limited Nigeria’s ability to translate research outputs from universities and government-funded institutes into viable, market-ready products.
FMIST says the programme will integrate innovation actors across the value chain by connecting researchers, startups, and inventors with investors and industry partners. It will also strengthen intellectual property systems and technology transfer mechanisms to improve commercial outcomes.
The initiative, championed by Oluremi Tinubu, First Lady of Nigeria, begins its national rollout in Kano, with a focus on building regionally inclusive innovation ecosystems.
The Minister says the programme is designed to close a critical gap between research and market value.
“This will bridge the long-standing gap between ideas and market value by linking innovators with industry, investors, and government support systems,” he says.
According to him, ECoN signals a shift from knowledge generation to value realisation, embedding commercialisation pipelines, venture integration, and policy-backed incubation frameworks to drive industrial growth and job creation.
ECoN: Kano rollout signals decentralised innovation strategy
Udeh says the decision to launch the programme in Kano reflects a broader federal strategy to decentralise innovation development and promote regionally balanced technological advancement.
“The inaugural activation in Kano underscores our commitment to spatially inclusive innovation ecosystems,” he says.
Key government-backed institutions, including the National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI), Sheda Science and Technology Complex (SHESTCO), and National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA), are expected to play central roles in implementing the programme.
The Minister says the initiative aligns with ongoing federal efforts to reposition research institutes as active contributors to Nigeria’s digital and industrial economy.
“These institutions will operationalise robust technology transfer architectures, de-risk innovation financing, and strengthen multi-stakeholder convergence across academia, industry, and government,” he says.
ECoN will prioritise sectors with strong commercial and developmental potential, including ICT, biotechnology, agriculture, energy, and advanced manufacturing. The ministry says the programme will strengthen value chains across these sectors while positioning Nigeria as a globally competitive hub for innovation-driven enterprise.
The launch of ECoN comes amid intensified government focus on digital transformation and innovation-led growth. Nigeria has introduced policy frameworks such as the Nigeria Startup Act and expanded support for tech hubs, digital infrastructure, and research funding.
However, stakeholders continue to identify commercialisation as the weakest link in the ecosystem, particularly the transition from research and prototypes to scalable, revenue-generating products.
With ECoN, the Federal Government is seeking to close this gap by embedding market-oriented mechanisms into Nigeria’s innovation architecture, aiming to unlock economic value from research and position the country more competitively in the global technology landscape.
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