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Nigerian businesses and innovators in agro-processing, manufacturing, healthcare, minerals and cybersecurity are set to benefit from a new innovation support programme designed to strengthen local enterprises and connect them with international expertise.
The Nigeria Innovation Cluster Exchange (NICE) has opened applications for its Pipeline Clinics, targeting businesses operating across six priority innovation clusters in Kano, Abia, Ogun, Oyo, Akwa Ibom and Abuja.
The initiative is being implemented by The Nest Innovation Technology Park in partnership with the UK-Nigeria Tech Hub under the UK Government’s Digital Access Programme, with collaboration from the Office for Nigerian Digital Innovation (ONDI).
The six clusters are Kano for agro-processing, Abia and Ogun for manufacturing, Oyo for health, Akwa Ibom for minerals and Abuja for cybersecurity.
Unlike conventional entrepreneurship programmes that provide broad business training, the Pipeline Clinics will focus on the specific challenges and opportunities facing businesses within each cluster.
The programme will provide support in areas including innovation management, prototyping, access to facilities and partners, business partnerships and peer learning.
It will also bring experts from the United Kingdom into the programme to provide specialised knowledge in innovation strategy, incubation models and technology validation.
The organisers said Nigerian ecosystem leaders would also participate in reciprocal learning opportunities with UK innovation clusters as part of efforts to strengthen collaboration between both countries.
According to the UK-Nigeria Tech Hub, stronger local innovation clusters are critical to unlocking Nigeria’s economic potential, particularly by helping businesses address local challenges while improving their competitiveness and ability to scale.
Co-founder of The Nest Innovation Technology Park, Oluwajoba Oloba, said the initiative was aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s indigenous innovation ecosystem through knowledge sharing and partnerships.
“With NICE, we are forging a bridge to strengthen our organic innovation ecosystem, leveraging the years of collaboration between the Government of Nigeria and His Majesty’s Government,” he said.
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He added that the programme would demonstrate what could be achieved when knowledge sharing is combined with government resources and institutional partnerships.
The programme is targeted at Nigerian-owned or Nigeria-based businesses with an existing business, startup, prototype, product, service or clearly defined business model.
Applicants must operate within, support or demonstrate strong relevance to at least one of the six priority clusters.
Businesses with clear growth opportunities or development challenges that can be addressed through the programme are encouraged to apply.
Priority may be given to businesses with strong growth potential, innovative products or services, existing market traction, expansion opportunities, investment readiness and job-creation potential.
Businesses with the potential to make a significant contribution to their local innovation ecosystems may also receive priority.
The NICE initiative emerged from research conducted across the six clusters to identify innovation activities, key stakeholders and opportunities for collaboration.
The organisers said the research showed the need to reduce fragmentation within Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem, where startups, research institutions, innovation hubs and entrepreneurship support organisations often operate independently.
Following the Pipeline Clinics, the programme will progress to collaborative innovation sprints involving participating clusters and Nigerian and UK partners.
The sprints are expected to produce collaborative prototypes or proof-of-concept projects addressing identified challenges within the various clusters.
The initiative also seeks to establish stronger local structures through Cluster Coordinators and Cluster Councils, with the aim of ensuring that collaboration continues beyond the pilot programme. Applications are now open to eligible entrepreneurs and businesses operating across the six priority areas.
