By Michael Ajayi
The Director-General, National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI), Dr Kazeem Raji, says Nigerian innovators can compete in global markets when backed by structured institutional support and development.
Raji stated this on Thursday in Abuja while receiving eight Nigerian innovators who represented the country at the SEE Pakistan 2026 World Startup Championship in Lahore.
The Nigerian delegation, drawn from NBTI Technology Incubation Centres (TICs) across eight states, clinched two major awards out of more than 4,000 applications submitted from over 40 countries.
Raji said that the achievements validate the Federal Government’s commitment to commercialising indigenous technologies and transforming local startups into export-ready global enterprises.
“Their performance on the global stage demonstrates the immense potential of Nigerian innovators when provided with the necessary mentorship, technical training, and institutional support.
“The board remains committed to strengthening technology incubation and creating direct pathways for our entrepreneurs to access international markets, venture capital, and strategic global partnerships,” he said.
Raji noted that Nigeria secured the Country Award in the Growth and Innovation Category, while Ms Zahra Uthman of Nature’s Sleek Ltd. (NBTI Minna), won the Best Skincare and Beauty Products award.
He commended the NBTI technical officers, centre managers, and mentors for rigorous pre-competition preparation that positioned the entrepreneurs for international success.
Speaking on behalf of the delegation, the Team Leader, Mr Ndotehyin Ekanem, attributed their performance to specialised training in project management, export preparedness, and quality management under the NBTI Incubation Programme.
Ekanem explained that the team participated in intensive business-to-business and business-to-consumer boot camps in Lahore, pitching locally developed technologies to global venture capitalists and angel investors.
“Each participating country was provided with an exhibition booth, and the Nigerian delegation attracted significant interest from global partners seeking commercial ties for our software and physical products,” he said.
Ekanem appealed to the Federal Government for dedicated expansion capital to commercialise their products globally, requesting an official presentation of the team to President Bola Tinubu.
He further urged state governments to partner with NBTI by providing manufacturing infrastructure to enable local innovators to scale up production and drive youth employment.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the entrepreneurs represented NBTI incubation centres in Uyo, Ile-Ife, Ibadan, Minna, Kaduna, Lagos, Bauchi, and Port Harcourt.
The SEE Pakistan World Startup Championship was organised by OIC-COMSTECH in collaboration with the Association of Private Sector Universities Pakistan (APSUP).(NAN) www.nanews.ng
Edited by Funmilayo Adeyemi