Tech innovators win over N300m at maiden InnovateNaija challenge

Adaeze Ruth Akpagbula has emerged overall winner of the maiden InnovateNaija Innovation Challenge, securing ₦100m grand prize for PenKeep, a smart climate control system designed to tackle severe, climate-driven production losses across poultry, aquaculture, greenhouse and smart irrigation operations.

The nationwide hardware and engineering initiative, jointly launched by the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) and AfriLabs, attracted over 1,200 entries from all 36 States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Following rigorous evaluations, 15 national finalists gathered in Abuja between October 6 &7 to pitch functional physical prototypes before industrial leaders, public officials and investors.

Speaking after the win, Akpagbula said the ₦100 million prize would directly expand Farm Speak’s manufacturing capacity, enabling the company to reach thousands of farmers nationwide.

She also highlighted the critical barriers facing local hardware innovators.

She said: “This support allows us to scale up production, get PenKeep into the hands of more farmers, and safeguard our food supply against climate volatility.”

The initiative also awarded multi-million-naira grants to top performers, alongside intra-agency and inter-agency innovation prizes.

Oluwatoyin Ogundeji, from Ondo State, won N30m for Smart Pond, an automated aquaculture management system as first runner-up; Aminu Sale Jino, Katsina State, got N20m for Electric Vehicle Charging Engine Piles as the second runner-up.

Thirty-seven state champions received ₦2.5 million each, demonstrating growing state-level support. Abia, Anambra, Enugu, Plateau, and Kaduna Governors matched the ₦2.5 million grants, doubling the awards for their respective champions to ₦5m each.

Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr. Kingsley Udeh, said: “The Federal Government remains committed to promoting innovation and developing homegrown technological solutions toward Nigeria’s industrialisation.

‘’This competition is a clear demonstration of our support for Nigerian innovators. Use these grants to refine your products, test your assumptions, and build sustainable businesses that create jobs and solve real problems in our communities.”

Reaffirming NASENI’s mandate to bridge the gap between prototypes and commercial production, Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of NASENI Khalil Suleiman Halilu, emphasised the importance of connecting innovators with the resources needed to scale their solutions.

“At NASENI, we believe Nigeria does not lack talent or problems worth solving. What we need are stronger bridges between ideas and opportunity, prototypes and production, innovators and industry. Innovation is not just about ideas; it is about solving problems that affect everyday lives. Our objective is to help create the conditions where Nigerian inventions become Nigerian enterprises and, ultimately, Nigerian industries.”

Highlighting the distribution of engineering talent beyond major technology hubs, Nanko Madu, Director of Programmes at AfriLabs, said: “One of our biggest insights from running InnovateNaija across all 36 states is that innovation talent is widely distributed, far beyond the Lagos-Abuja corridor. Young Nigerians are increasingly developing hardware tailored to our local operating conditions. By supporting them, Nigeria reduces dependence on foreign technology while driving economic self-reliance.”

Also speaking on subnational alignment, Chinwe Okoli, Special Adviser on Innovation and Business Incubation to Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State, added:

“When NASENI approached Anambra State, Governor Soludo immediately approved the matching grant because this initiative directly aligns with our state’s technology-driven development agenda and our commitment to empowering local talent.”

 Minister of Youth Development Ayodele Olawande, Deputy Governor of Kaduna State Dr. Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe, NASRDA Director-General Prof. Matthew Adepoju, private sector investors, and leaders across Nigeria’s technology ecosystem attracted the event.