Agency Hands Out Millions in Grants as Nigerians Await Answers on Sustainability, Accountability
The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) has announced the disbursement of N435.5 million in grants and prize money to winners of its maiden innovation competitions, but the high-profile ceremony has raised an important question: what measurable value will Nigerians get in return for the hundreds of millions committed to the scheme?
The awards, presented on Wednesday at the State House Banquet Hall, Abuja, covered the InnovateNaija, Future Makers, Intra-Agency and Inter-Agency competitions.
The biggest beneficiary was the overall winner of InnovateNaija, who received N100 million, while the first and second runners-up received N30 million and N20 million respectively. The 37 state champions, including the Federal Capital Territory, also received N2.5 million each.
Another N162 million was shared among winners of the NASENI Intra-Agency and Inter-Agency competitions, while N23 million went to the top six finalists in the Future Makers competition.
While NASENI has presented the initiative as a major investment in Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem, the ceremony also puts the agency under pressure to demonstrate that the funds will produce actual products, businesses, jobs and technologies, rather than end with award presentations and congratulatory speeches.
For an agency entrusted with promoting science, engineering infrastructure and technological development, Nigerians will reasonably expect more than prize money and photographs at government events.
The real test begins after the cheques are presented.
How many of the winning innovations will survive beyond the grant? How many will reach the market? How many Nigerians will ultimately benefit? How many jobs will be created? And what mechanism has NASENI established to track how the beneficiaries spend the money?
These questions become particularly important given the size of the financial commitment.
Representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh, reaffirmed the Federal Government’s support for innovation and urged beneficiaries to use the grants responsibly.
But beyond exhortations, Nigerians need verifiable performance indicators, timelines and transparent monitoring showing what each beneficiary is expected to deliver with public funds.
NASENI’s Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Mr Khalil Suleiman Halilu, also urged the beneficiaries to protect their intellectual property, manage their finances properly, build strong teams and continually improve their products.
The advice is commendable, but it also highlights the central challenge facing the initiative: a grant does not automatically translate into innovation, commercial success or industrial development.
Nigeria has witnessed several government-backed empowerment and innovation schemes in the past, many of which generated publicity at launch but left the public with little information about their long-term outcomes.
NASENI must therefore avoid allowing its innovation competition to become another government programme remembered mainly for its launch ceremony and headline figures.
The agency should publish the names and innovations of all beneficiaries, the selection criteria, the amounts received by each winner, the milestones attached to the grants and periodic reports showing how the projects are progressing.
It should also disclose how many beneficiaries eventually commercialise their innovations, attract private investment, create jobs or deliver solutions at scale.
The message from NASENI is that Nigeria is investing in its innovators.
Now, the agency must prove that N435.5 million of public resources is not simply money awarded, but money converted into measurable national value.
Until that happens, the celebration may be premature.
