The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced plans to establish a National Design and Development Agency (NDDA) aimed at supporting innovators in refining their ideas, accessing funding, and reaching viable markets.
The Minister of Education, Mr. Tunji Alausa, disclosed this during a visit to Innov8 Hub in Abuja on Monday. He stated that the new agency would serve as a bridge between Nigeria’s abundant creative talent and the commercial ecosystem by providing vital resources to inventors, startups, and small-scale manufacturers across the country.
Mr. Alausa emphasized President Bola Tinubu’s administration’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for innovation and entrepreneurship, describing human capital development as critical to Nigeria’s long-term growth.
“There are so many innovative Nigerians. Our job as government is to meet you halfway and give you the opportunity you need to unleash that potential,” he said.
According to the Minister, the NDDA will provide a platform for innovators to receive community-informed financing, as well as guidance to bring their ideas from conception to market. He acknowledged that although not all innovation projects succeed, a fraction—just five to ten per cent—can potentially transform millions of lives if well-executed.
“What you’re doing here is even more important. You’re focusing on real-life solutions we urgently need,” he noted.
Mr. Alausa also urged innovators to secure patents for their products, stressing the importance of intellectual property rights, commercial readiness, and collaboration with industry players.
> “You need to aggressively move these products to the market. There are unlimited opportunities in Nigeria waiting to be tapped,” he added.
He praised Innov8 Hub for its work in sectors such as agricultural processing and manufacturing, and called for stronger partnerships among innovators, financiers, and manufacturers to enhance product visibility and scale.
The NDDA is expected to play a key role in unlocking Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem, offering practical solutions to challenges hindering local inventors from achieving commercial success.
Source: Business Post Nigeria
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