Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, on Thursday, April 23, 2026, launched the Energize Commercialisation Now (ECoN) initiative in Kano State to accelerate the conversion of research outputs into market-ready products and scalable enterprises.
The programme, themed “From Innovation to Industry: Energizing Commercialisation,” seeks to bridge the gap between ideas from universities, research institutions and innovation hubs, and their commercialisation.
Tinubu said Nigeria is rich in innovation but many ideas fail to reach the market due to systemic challenges.
She said ECoN will provide an enabling environment to support innovators, nurture talent and fast-track the transformation of ideas into viable enterprises.
She linked the initiative to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s economic agenda on industrialisation, digital transformation and diversification, noting its alignment with Nigeria’s one trillion-dollar economy ambition.
She also called for stronger inclusion of women and young people in the innovation ecosystem to drive sustainable development and strengthen households.
The initiative will begin in the North-West, with Kano as the launch base, before a nationwide rollout.
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Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, described the programme as a milestone, saying it reflects confidence in Kano’s innovation capacity.
He said it would bridge the gap between research and industry by turning academic ideas into commercial products and enterprises.
Yusuf said the initiative aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda and highlighted ongoing state investments in science, technology and digital infrastructure to position Kano as a regional innovation hub.
He also commended the First Lady for her support to education and empowerment programs.
Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Mr Kingsley Tochukwu, said ECoN is a national commercialisation framework designed to convert research into economic value.
He said it will include investor pitch sessions, deal rooms and a digital platform linking researchers with industry stakeholders.
He disclosed that more than 1,000 innovation entries have been received, with early investment interest recorded, adding that the programme will be rolled out across all geopolitical zones.
ECoN is expected to strengthen Nigeria’s innovation pipeline, boost job creation and drive economic growth through structured commercialisation of research outputs.