The Federal Government has signaled a major shift in its science and technology policy, declaring that the success of national innovation will now be measured by tangible economic impact rather than the mere frequency of administrative activities.
The Honourable Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr. Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh, SAN, issued this directive during a two-day strategic workshop on the Implementation of Presidential Priorities and Ministerial Deliverables held at the Lake Greenfield Hotel in Abuja.
Shifting from Process to Performance
In a decisive address to heads of agencies and ministry officials, Dr. Udeh emphasized that the era of evaluating performance based on the number of committees formed or meetings held is over. Under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Ministry is refocusing its mandate to align with the government’s Eight Presidential Priorities, which include food security, poverty eradication, and job creation.
“Performance would no longer be assessed by the volume of activities or committees formed, but by tangible impact,” Dr. Udeh stated. “This includes the commercialization of new technologies, the growth of innovation-driven enterprises, and practical solutions addressing national challenges across agriculture, health, energy, and the digital economy.”
Financing the Future: The NRIF
To support this result-oriented approach, the Minister underscored the government’s commitment to operationalizing the National Research and Innovation Fund (NRIF). The fund is designed as a strategic financing tool to bridge the gap between laboratory research and market-ready products, specifically targeting projects that can accelerate Nigeria’s transition to a green economy.
The Minister also highlighted the necessity of a future-ready workforce. He called for aggressive reskilling and upskilling initiatives to ensure Nigerian youths are equipped for emerging technologies and the burgeoning sector of green jobs.
Strategic Partnerships for Governance
The workshop, supported by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) through its Partnership for Agile Governance and Climate Engagement (PACE), serves as a roadmap for the Ministry’s 2026 targets.
Representing the FCDO-PACE National Team Lead, Deputy Team Lead Titilope Fakoya reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s climate-resilient growth. Fakoya noted that the retreat is designed to foster data-driven execution across the Ministry’s various parastatals.
Innovation as a Competitive Edge
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Philip Ndiomu Ebiogeh, reminded participants of the Ministry’s pivotal role in the nation’s survival. He noted that Nigeria’s industrial competitiveness and climate resilience are now inextricably linked to how effectively science and technology are deployed.
The workshop concluded with a call for strengthened institutional coordination, ensuring that every research output under the Ministry’s purview finds a path to commercial viability and national development.
