By Faith Anisiobi, The Sight News
The National Policy Advocacy Centre (NPAC) of the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) has rallied key stakeholders across Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem to accelerate the commercialization of research and innovation as a pathway to sustainable industrial growth and economic transformation.
The call was made during a high-level webinar themed, “From Lab to Market: Driving Nigeria’s Industrial Transformation through Research Commercialization,” which brought together policymakers, researchers, academics, government agencies, manufacturers, financial institutions, innovators, development partners and private sector leaders.
Speaking at the event, the 2nd Deputy President of ACCI and Chairman of NPAC, Dr. Aliyu Idi Hong, said Nigeria possesses immense research talent but continues to struggle with translating research findings into commercially viable products and services. He stressed the need for stronger collaboration among government, academia, industry, investors and development partners to bridge the gap between innovation and the marketplace.
According to him, building a robust innovation ecosystem that promotes technology transfer, protects intellectual property, mobilises investment and supports indigenous innovations is critical to driving national development.
Delivering the keynote address on behalf of the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI), Engr. Dr. Kazeem Kolawole Raji, the Director of Procurement, Mr. Tukura Zakaria, said Nigeria’s economic prosperity depends on its ability to transform research into market-ready products and thriving businesses.
He described technology incubation as the crucial link between research and industry, providing innovators with mentorship, business support, market access and strategic partnerships needed to commercialize ideas. He also highlighted NBTI’s efforts to promote indigenous innovation through its nationwide Technology Incubation Centres and youth entrepreneurship programmes.
Dr. Raji called for increased investment in technology incubation, improved access to finance, stronger intellectual property protection and greater support for young innovators, noting that such measures would strengthen the global competitiveness of Made-in-Nigeria products.
In his welcome address, delivered on behalf of the Director-General of ACCI, Mr. Agabaidu Jideani, the Executive Director of NPAC, Dr. Chidiebere Onwumere, reaffirmed the chamber’s commitment to advancing private sector-led industrialization through evidence-based policy advocacy and strategic partnerships.
He explained that the webinar forms part of ACCI’s broader initiative to strengthen collaboration between industry and research institutions while laying the foundation for a proposed National Forum on Commercializing Research and Innovation for Sustainable Industrial Growth.
Representatives from the National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI), National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP), Bank of Industry (BOI), Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), African University of Science and Technology (AUST), and other research institutions participated in panel discussions.
Participants identified weak industry-research collaboration, inadequate funding, fragmented innovation ecosystems, limited commercialization incentives and insufficient intellectual property protection as major barriers to converting research into market-ready solutions.
They advocated stronger partnerships among universities, research institutes, manufacturers, government agencies, investors and development partners to promote commercially viable innovations capable of creating jobs, reducing import dependence and improving Nigeria’s global competitiveness.
The stakeholders also recommended clearer institutional intellectual property policies, expanded incubation and technology transfer platforms, greater private sector involvement in setting research priorities and stronger financing mechanisms for innovation-driven enterprises.
During the webinar, the National Board for Technology Incubation announced its NextGen Innovation Showcase scheduled for August 6, 2026, while the Bank of Industry reaffirmed its commitment to supporting partnerships that promote innovation-led industrial development.
At the close of the event, participants resolved to sustain engagement through a national forum aimed at developing a coordinated roadmap for research commercialization. Dr. Hong also directed the NPAC Secretariat to prepare a comprehensive report containing the webinar’s recommendations to guide future policy advocacy.
The stakeholders reaffirmed their commitment to transforming Nigerian research into wealth-creating enterprises, strengthening collaboration between academia and industry, and positioning innovation as a key driver of sustainable industrialization, economic diversification and inclusive national development.
