By Chinedu Okafor, African Business Correspondent
Lagos witnessed a vibrant showcase of youth-driven innovation on Monday as NerdzFactory Company, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Mastercard Foundation, unveiled groundbreaking initiatives to empower young innovators.
The Innovation State Showcase, themed “Youth Innovation as a Driver of State Development”, brought together policy experts, development partners, and industry leaders to spotlight solutions designed by young Nigerians tackling pressing development challenges.
Driving Youth Innovation
Ade Olowojoba, Founding Partner of NerdzFactory, described the Young Africa Innovates (YAI) Programme as a flagship initiative that identifies, supports, and scales youth-led innovations nationwide. He emphasized that the programme aligns with Lagos State’s development priorities, enabling scalable, high-impact solutions.
“Mastercard Foundation is sponsoring the programme, UNDP will oversee its implementation, and NerdzFactory will provide training for the innovators,” Olowojoba explained.
UNDP’s Call for Grassroots Support
UNDP Resident Representative in Nigeria, Ms. Elsie Attafuah, praised the creativity and resilience of Nigerian youths, urging governments to nurture grassroots innovation.
“Young people are creating tools that address food losses, designing data-driven systems, and producing world-class ideas with minimal resources. Talent in Nigeria can come from anywhere,” she noted.
Attafuah highlighted how the YAI programme has helped entrepreneurs refine prototypes, validate business ideas, and connect with potential markets.
Lagos as Nigeria’s Innovation Hub
Lagos State Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, Folashade Ambrose-Medebem, reaffirmed Lagos as the hub of Nigeria’s innovation economy. She revealed that over 9,000 applications were received for the YAI programme, with 205 innovators selected.
“Innovation is a public good that improves quality of life. Young people do not lack ideas; they need platforms, systems that are fair, accessible, and supportive,” she said.
The Commissioner pledged continued efforts to reduce regulatory barriers and expand opportunities for startups.
Boosting Agricultural Innovation
Representing the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, Technical Assistant Akorede Adeboye outlined initiatives such as the Lagos Agro-Innovation Club, Agripreneur Project (LAP), and Agrithon grant competitions, which have trained over 5,000 youths and funded dozens of agritech solutions.
“These programmes are designed to grow agribusinesses, create jobs, and build a community of youths solving food security challenges,” Adeboye explained.
Panel Insights: Challenges and Opportunities
A panel session moderated by Adefunke Adewale explored challenges facing small businesses, the importance of business intelligence, and mentorship in scaling enterprises.
- Nkiruka Achakpo, Product Owner at Pearmonie, shared how digital intelligence tools revived struggling microenterprises, while stressing the need for basic infrastructure like electricity.
- Angelou Ezeilo, Co-President of Ashoka Africa, called for urgent reforms in digital infrastructure, power supply, and education, noting Nigeria’s lag behind Kenya and South Africa in fintech indicators.
- Bode Roberts, CEO of Dataleum, advocated for open innovation and data access policies to strengthen startups.
- Rukayat Bello, CEO of Regxta Global Services, urged government focus on grassroots entrepreneurs, emphasizing grants and tech events for low-income communities.
Conclusion
The Innovation State Showcase underscored the transformative potential of youth-led innovation in Nigeria. With strong backing from UNDP, Mastercard Foundation, and Lagos State, the YAI programme is positioning young entrepreneurs as key drivers of sustainable development.