Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, on Thursday formally launched the Energise Commercialisation Now (ECoN) initiative in Kano, a programme designed to strengthen the country’s innovation ecosystem and drive economic diversification.
Speaking at the national unveiling, Mrs. Tinubu said the initiative is in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which focuses on industrialisation, digital transformation, manufacturing, creative industries, and innovation. She emphasised the need for Nigeria to shift from exporting raw materials to building systems that support funding, scaling, and commercialising locally developed innovations for national growth and global competitiveness.
She noted that Nigeria is rich in creative talent, with universities, research institutions, innovation hubs, and young entrepreneurs consistently producing innovative ideas. Despite existing challenges, she said Nigerian innovators continue to achieve global recognition, especially in fintech and enterprise development. According to her, ECoN will help create jobs and contribute to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Mrs. Tinubu also advocated for inclusiveness, urging increased participation of women and young people in the innovation space. She officially declared: “At this juncture, to the glory of God, I officially launch Energise Commercialisation Now for the benefit of our entire nation, starting from the Northwest and extending to all geopolitical zones.”
Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, welcomed the initiative, describing Kano as a strategic choice for the launch and donor deployment. He said the programme reflects confidence in the state’s capacity to drive innovation-led development in Northern Nigeria. He added that ECoN would help close the gap between research outputs, innovation, and market access, noting ongoing efforts by the state to strengthen digital governance, ICT infrastructure, and science and technical education.
Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, Kingsley Udeh, described the initiative as a key milestone in repositioning science, technology, and innovation as drivers of economic growth. He noted that although Nigeria produces significant research output, many innovations remain uncommercialised due to limited access to markets and funding.
The event was attended by the Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin; the Governor of Jigawa State; representatives of governors from Kebbi, Katsina, Sokoto, Kaduna, and Zamfara; First Ladies of the North-West states; lawmakers; ministers; and traditional rulers.
