The Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, Dr Uche Nnaji, has said that producing impactful research with global solutions can turn Nigeria into an investment hub.
Nnaji said this at the First Annual Convening of the Nigerian Impact Investing Research and Industry Collaborative themed ‘Impact Investing: Shaping Policies, Research, and Innovation to Commercialisation – The Roadmap to 2025.’
The minister who was represented by his Special Assistant, Dr Patricks Oghuma, stated that producing research outcomes that address local and global concerns can make the country attractive for investors.
He said, “As we chart the roadmap to 2025 and beyond, Nigeria must focus on shaping robust policy frameworks to foster collaboration among academia, industry, and government. Policies must create a conducive environment for innovation by addressing funding gaps, providing access to state-of-the-art infrastructure, and fostering partnerships.
“Our goal is to position Nigeria as a global leader in research and innovation. Achieving this requires robust partnerships with international organisations, collaboration with leading research institutions, and showcasing Nigeria’s achievements on the global stage. By becoming a hub for impactful research, we can attract investments, build capacity, and develop solutions that address not just local but global challenges.
“In line with the Renewed Hope Agenda championed by President Bola Tinubu, I want to reaffirm the government’s commitment to leveraging science, technology, and innovation to achieve economic diversification, industrialization, and digital transformation. These priorities are critical to boosting Nigeria’s export capacity and creating shared economic prosperity.”
He added that the Ministry was also aligning its efforts with UNESCO’s Open Science Recommendations to ensure that innovation becomes a central pillar in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
The Chairperson of the Nigerian Impact Investing Research Industry Collaborative, Anna Evi-Parker, in her welcome address, noted that NIIRIC was dedicated to ensuring sustainable impact in Nigeria by bridging the gap between the researchers and the industry.
“NIIRIC was created with one core belief and that is by working together, connecting researchers with industry leaders and innovators, we can build an ecosystem that delivers measurable, sustainable impact in Nigeria.
“I believe that what this annual convening is kickstarting is more than just the conversation, it is an opportunity to build meaningful connection, so I challenge us to collaborate on solutions that will help us to build NIIRIC’s overall vision which is being the leading platform driving impactful research and industry engagement in Nigeria,” she said.
The Dean of the Lagos Business School, Professor Chris Ogbechie, in his goodwill message, affirmed that impact investing was more than a financial strategy,
“It is a transformative vehicle for achieving sustainable development and achieving United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Lagos Business School is glad to be part of NIIRIC, an initiative that will aid the \adoption of research solutions and models for scaling impact investment. Our country and continent need collaborations that have a clear and measurable impact towards advancing The Africa We Want agenda 2063 and the SDGs,” she said.
