National Board for Technology Incubation, NBTI, has announced plans to showcase 105 pioneering Nigerian innovations at the grand finale of the NextGen Innovation Challenge 2025, scheduled for October 9 in London, United Kingdom.
This is just as the organization also revealed plans to launch the NBTI Global App, a digital platform linking Nigerian innovators with diaspora investors and global markets.
Director General/CEO of NBTI, Dr. Kazeem Kolawole Raji, who spoke to journalists on Thursday in Abuja, described the initiative as a historic step to positioning Nigeria as a global leader in innovation and entrepreneurship.
He said: “The NextGen Innovation Challenge is not merely a competition—it is a national movement. It is a bold, ambitious, and coordinated effort to connect grassroots ingenuity with global capital and to catalyse a new generation of entrepreneurial problem-solvers powered by vision, excellence, and global ambition.”
Raji disclosed that the finalists—selected from over 3,000 entries—will pitch transformative solutions in HealthTech, AgriTech, FinTech, Clean Energy, Artificial Intelligence, IoT and more before global investors, policymakers, and development partners at the Hilton London Paddington.
He listed the standout innovations to include Bra-X, a smart wearable device for early detection of breast cancer; a ventilator capable of supporting six patients simultaneously; AI-powered drones for precision farming; an affordable clean energy solutions for underserved communities; and Next-generation FinTech tools for inclusive finance.
The NBTI boss further revealed that the finalists had undergone a rigorous vetting process led by Prof. Hari Mohan of London South Bank University to ensure international credibility and standards.
Explaining the choice of London, he said the city’s status as a hub for global capital and innovation made it the perfect platform for Nigeria’s young innovators.
“London provides the opportunity to connect Nigerian innovators with venture capitalists, diaspora investors, European industry leaders, and policy influencers,” he stressed.
According to him, the grand finale would feature innovation pitches, a consortium project showcase—including the $1 billion Innovate Africa Israel/BIPVco Solar Project—and strategic global partnerships.
Raji expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for backing the initiative through the Renewed Hope Agenda, which he said has “rekindled the flame of innovation and empowered young Nigerians to dream beyond borders.”
He also commended the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Chief Uche Godfrey Nnaji, for policy support, as well as the British High Commission in Nigeria for fast-tracking visas for the innovators as well as the Air Peace Chairman, Chief Allen Onyema, for providing discounted and complimentary flights to airlift the innovators to London.
“We are not exporting talents—we are amplifying solutions from Africa to the world,” Raji said, adding: “The NextGen Innovation Challenge is Nigeria’s innovation renaissance, and we will not stop until the youth of this nation have a seat at every global innovation table.“
He revealed that the 2026 edition of the challenge would be officially launched in London, with submissions opening in the first quarter of next year.
