In a landmark development reflecting the growing global credibility of the NextGen Innovation Challenge by the National Board for Technology Incubation, NBTI, Nigeria’s premier institution for converting ideas into industries, the Commonwealth of Nations has formally adopted the programme for rollout across all the 56 member countries, with multiple international funding partners preparing to come on board.
Specifically, the Commonwealth Nations Innovation Challenge will officially debut in Barbados and Antigua in 2026, marking the first implementation phase of what is set to become one of the most expansive multinational innovation programmes within the Commonwealth ecosystem.
Director General/Chief Executive of the NBTI, Dr. Kazeem Kolawole Raji, while speaking on the agency’s achievements under his leadership in the last one year, explained that “this inaugural Caribbean edition represents a strategic expansion beyond Africa, reinforcing South–South collaboration, cross-border knowledge exchange, and shared innovation frameworks among developing and developed Commonwealth economies.”
“It also reflects a deliberate shift toward inclusive innovation—one that recognises talent and solutions emerging from diverse regions rather than a single innovation centre.
“The Commonwealth-wide adoption positions innovation as a shared economic growth lever, capable of addressing common challenges in healthcare, climate resilience, digital transformation, and sustainable development.
“With international funding partners signalling readiness to participate, the initiative is expected to unlock new capital flows, technical assistance, and global market access for innovators across member states,” he stressed.
Beyond funding, Raji said the programme strengthens the Commonwealth’s relevance in global technology, sustainability, and entrepreneurship conversations, repositioning it as an active enabler of next-generation solutions rather than a passive diplomatic bloc.
“As the 2026 rollout approaches, the NextGen Innovation Challenge is increasingly viewed not as a standalone competition, but as a Commonwealth-backed innovation infrastructure—designed to convert ideas into scalable ventures and regional collaboration into measurable economic impact,” he added.
Raji said the strategic goals for the NEXTGEN 2026 are to mobilise significant capital and Foreign Direct Investment, FDI for Nigeria and emerging-market innovators; position Nigeria and partner countries as credible sources of global innovations; strengthen international innovation diplomacy through London, Doha, and North American engagement; move innovators from prototype to market, not just pitch stages; and institutionalise the programme as a year-round innovation and investment platform.
He also listed the expected outcomes for the challenge as increased number of investment-ready startups; measurable capital commitments and partnerships; stronger global visibility for Nigerian and African innovation; long-term mentorship and incubation pipelines; and sustainable public-private-international collaboration models.
The director general added that “NextGen is no longer an emerging initiative — it is a global innovation platform, designed to scale ideas, unlock capital, and deliver real economic impact.”
Reflecting on his achievements in office, he said: “One year is not the full journey—it is the opening movement. But every great performance reveals its future in the first step,” adding “NBTI has regained confidence. Innovators have regained hope. Nigeria has gained momentum.”
He, therefore, reaffirmed his unwavering commitment to President Bola Tinubu’s vision, the Nigeria First Policy, and the building of an innovation economy that creates jobs, exports solutions, and secures our future.
