The National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI) has received seven Nigerian entrepreneurs who represented the country at the SEE Pakistan 2026 World Startup Championship in Lahore, Pakistan.

The entrepreneurs were received by NBTI management, led by the Director-General/Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Kazeem Kolawole Raji, following their participation in the international startup competition.

Their performance highlighted the talent, creativity, enterprise and technological ingenuity within Nigeria’s emerging innovation ecosystem. SEE Pakistan 2026 brought together startups, entrepreneurs, investors, mentors and innovation stakeholders on an international platform focused on entrepreneurship, innovation, visibility and global collaboration.

Following their reception at NBTI, the seven champions were presented to the Honourable Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr. Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh, SAN, where their achievement was formally showcased as part of the Federal Government’s efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s technology, innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem.

The achievement comes amid the economic reforms of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, which seek to reposition Nigeria for sustainable growth, productivity, investment and prosperity.

The administration has articulated an ambition to build a $1 trillion Nigerian economy by 2030, with technology, innovation, productivity, enterprise development and a skilled youthful workforce forming important parts of the transformation agenda.

The Federal Government’s Nigeria First Policy also focuses on strengthening Nigerian businesses, promoting domestic products and services, creating employment and improving the competitiveness and innovative capacity of Nigerian enterprises.

NBTI Management commended President Tinubu for providing a policy environment in which Nigerian entrepreneurs, innovators and technology-driven enterprises can compete beyond Nigeria.

The Board said achieving a globally competitive, innovation-driven economy requires sustained investment in people, institutions, technology, entrepreneurship, research, product development, incubation, commercialisation and international market access.

Speaking at the reception, Dr. Raji congratulated the seven entrepreneurs for their resilience, professionalism, determination and representation of Nigeria on the international stage.

He described their achievement as a reflection of the creative and entrepreneurial capacity of Nigerian youths and innovators, noting that success emerges when innovation, incubation, mentorship, institutional support and determination come together.

According to him, NBTI remains committed to helping indigenous ideas progress from conception to innovation, prototypes, market-ready products and commercially viable enterprises capable of competing in local, regional and global markets.

Dr. Raji also commended Centre Managers, technical officers, mentors, coordinators and support teams across NBTI’s Technology Incubation Centres for their contributions to developing Nigerian entrepreneurs.

He said the Lahore achievement should encourage the NBTI ecosystem to intensify efforts to produce globally competitive Nigerian enterprises.

The Director-General reaffirmed NBTI’s commitment to strengthening connections between Nigerian innovators and international markets, investors, mentors, technology partners, universities, research institutions and global innovation platforms.

He stressed that Nigeria’s ambition of becoming a major global economic power requires deliberate efforts to convert its human capital and technological creativity into productive enterprises, intellectual property, globally competitive products and sustainable jobs.

NBTI will therefore continue to promote indigenous technological potential, facilitate technology incubation and accelerate the commercialisation of innovations in line with its mandate.

The SEE Pakistan 2026 achievement demonstrates the capacity of Nigerian entrepreneurs to compete internationally when provided with appropriate platforms, preparation, mentorship and institutional support.

The Board said the seven champions’ success reinforces the importance of sustained national investment in innovation and entrepreneurship as Nigeria pursues its $1 trillion economy ambition.

NBTI said it will continue providing incubation, mentorship, technical support, market linkages and international exposure to help transform promising Nigerian ideas into enterprises of national and global significance.

Management congratulated the seven champions and appreciated the partners and stakeholders who contributed to their success.

Ibrahim Agboola
Information and Public Relations Unit
National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI)

Source: National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI)