The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) has launched the NASENI Xceler8 Programme, an accelerator initiative aimed at helping Nigerian innovators transform scientific and engineering breakthroughs into commercially viable businesses.

The programme is being delivered in partnership with AfriLabs, a pan-African network of innovation and technology hubs, and is designed for innovators who have progressed beyond the idea stage and developed functional prototypes, minimum viable products (MVPs) or products already available commercially.

Participants selected for the programme will receive assistance in product refinement, business development, market access, technical mentorship, industry networking, investment readiness and onboarding.

Each cohort will have access to as much as $25,000 in acceleration support. In addition, the top 10 innovators will have the opportunity to present their businesses to investors and industry stakeholders at a Demo Day in Abuja.

NASENI said the initiative responds to a significant obstacle confronting innovators in Nigeria: the challenge of taking promising technologies beyond the prototype phase and developing them into sustainable commercial ventures.

Speaking on the programme, NASENI Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Khalil Suleiman Halilu, represented by his Special Adviser on ICT, Engineer Bashir Aliyu, said the real measure of innovation lies not simply in developing ideas or prototypes, but in the ability to transform them into products capable of attracting investment, creating jobs and competing in the marketplace.

The agency said Xceler8 will further build participants’ capabilities in product development, commercialisation, intellectual property, business strategy and investment readiness.

NASENI also highlighted the importance of commercialising locally developed innovations to Nigeria’s economic transformation. According to the agency, home-grown technologies have the potential to create industries, generate employment and improve the country’s capacity to develop solutions to its challenges.

AfriLabs Executive Director Nanko Madu said the partnership demonstrates a shared commitment to developing an innovation ecosystem that can convert Nigerian ingenuity into commercial and industrial success.

She added that AfriLabs’ network of more than 540 innovation hubs spread across 54 African countries would help connect participating innovators with mentors, investors, corporate partners and potential markets.

Eligibility for the programme is open to Nigerians aged 15 to 40 who have functional MVPs, live commercial products or evidence of paying customers. Applicants must also demonstrate a commitment to national development and establish that their innovations respond to real-world challenges.

Managing Director of Vahab Limited, Mr. Austin Okoye, who also spoke at the event, stressed the need for investment across research, engineering, certification, manufacturing and commercialisation so that promising innovations can develop into scalable businesses.

The launch ended with the unveiling of the Xceler8 structure and an invitation to eligible innovators to apply. The programme is expected to provide opportunities for participants to scale their solutions and increase their social and economic impact.

Source: TechAfricanews