Nigeria has stepped up talks with Türkiye on converting publicly funded research into commercial products, as Africa’s largest economy looks to harness innovation to support growth and industrial development.
The discussions were held during meetings in Türkiye on the sidelines of President Bola Tinubu’s official visit this week, according to Nigeria’s Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Kingsley Udeh.
Udeh said on Friday that the government aims to shift away from research conducted mainly for academic purposes towards innovation that delivers tangible economic and social returns.
“Türkiye’s success in commercialising research through effective technology transfer mechanisms and strong private-sector participation offers valuable lessons for Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem,” the minister noted in a statement issued by the National Space Research and Development Agency.
According to him, Nigeria is developing a clear and actionable framework to support structured research-to-market pathways between both countries, with a focus on turning scientific discoveries into scalable commercial products.
He explained that the proposed collaboration would prioritise joint research and development, innovation financing, capacity building, startup incubation, and industrial scale-up, all aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s innovation landscape and boosting its global competitiveness.
The minister reiterated that the initiative aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the current administration, which places innovation, science, and technology at the centre of economic diversification and sustainable development.
He described the engagement as a significant step towards deepening international cooperation in science and technology while positioning Nigeria to harness innovation as a catalyst for industrial growth and national development.
Udeh said he was accompanied during the engagements by the Director-General of the National Space Research and Development Agency, Dr Matthew Adepoju, underscoring the strategic role of space science and technology in the discussions.
He added that NASRDA would play a fundamental role in the proposed research-to-market framework, particularly in driving innovation, technology transfer, and the commercialisation of research outputs critical to national development.
The Director-General of NASRDA, Dr Matthew Adepoju, who was part of the minister’s visit to the Innovation and Technology Park in Türkiye, said there were opportunities to explore tripartite collaborations involving NASRDA, university research hubs, and industry.
The director said NASRDA could pursue partnerships in areas such as robotics and artificial intelligence, with a focus on encouraging Nigerian startups to achieve global impact.
According to him, sectors including robotics and software development present viable areas for collaboration that would be of immense benefit to Nigeria’s space enterprise and broader innovation ecosystem.
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