The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to building a $1 trillion economy driven by technology, innovation and commercialized research.
The Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr Kingsley Udeh, gave the assurance on Tuesday during a visit to the National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP) in Abuja.
As part of the visit, the minister inspected Project Nova, a newly reconstructed facility designed to serve as a hub for deep technology and machine learning, with the goal of equipping Nigerians with practical, market-ready digital skills.
Addressing the agency’s management, Udeh commended the Director-General of NOTAP, Dr Obiageli Amadiobi, for transforming an existing structure into a people-focused innovation center in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
He also praised the agency for taking deliberate steps to bridge the gap between academic research and industrial application.
“There will always be circumstances that justify giving excuses. We can always rise above such circumstances. Instead of excuses, we must deliver results and take actions that move us toward our goals,” the minister said.
Udeh stressed that the Federal Government is determined to move Nigeria beyond producing intellectual property and academic research to creating enterprises, generating revenue and driving economic growth through innovation.
According to him, Project Nova complements the Energize Commercialization Now (ECoN) initiative championed by the First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, which seeks to promote innovation and commercialization.
The minister assured NOTAP of the ministry’s continued support, describing the agency as a critical vehicle for expanding government-led innovation and technology programs across the country.
He said the agency would also play a key role in scaling youth-focused initiatives such as the Youth and Student in Innovation Program, which is being implemented in partnership with the Ministries of Education, Health, Women Affairs, and Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy.
According to Udeh, the initiative is designed to equip young Nigerians—both within and outside formal institutions—with in-demand digital skills, including data optimization and content creation, enabling them to earn legitimate income while providing services to clients in Nigeria and across the world.
In her remarks, NOTAP Director-General Dr Obiageli Amadiobi reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to supporting the ministry’s vision of making Nigerian innovations globally competitive.
She said the agency is intentionally combining skills development with internationally recognized certification to ensure Nigerian youths remain competitive in the global technology ecosystem.
“We are intentional about balancing skills development with certification. We are ensuring that the certifications issued to Nigerian youths are globally recognized and backed by law,” she said.
