Nigeria’s state-run engineering agency has launched a new competition aimed at encouraging civil servants to develop home-grown technological solutions for the country’s most pressing challenges.
The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) announced the “Inter-Agency Innovation Competition & Awards” on Wednesday, calling on government ministries and departments to pitch ideas that could transform public service.
The initiative is part of a broader push by the Nigerian government to reduce its reliance on foreign technology and stimulate indigenous industrialisation.
Solving local problems
The competition is open to all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) of the Federal Government. NASENI is looking for innovative proposals in several key sectors, including:
- Health: Modernising medical record-keeping or equipment.
- Agriculture: Improving crop yields and food security through tech.
- Education: Expanding digital learning tools.
- Infrastructure: Developing smart solutions for the country’s transport and power networks.
In a statement, the agency said its mission is to “drive Nigeria’s indigenous industrialisation, job creation, and national progress.” By targeting public servants, NASENI hopes to tap into the hands-on experience of those who manage Nigeria’s public systems daily.
A shift toward ‘Made in Nigeria’
For decades, Nigeria has struggled with the high cost of importing industrial equipment and technology. Under its current leadership, NASENI has been tasked with creating a “dynamic infrastructure” that allows the country to produce its own hardware and software.
This new competition is seen as a way to promote “collaboration and creativity” across the often-siloed landscape of the Nigerian civil service.
Government agencies have been directed to submit their entries via a dedicated portal on the NASENI website. Winning ideas are expected to receive funding and technical support to move from the concept stage to real-world implementation.
Why it matters
The move comes at a time when Nigeria is increasingly looking to its tech sector to diversify an economy traditionally dependent on oil.
If successful, the competition could lead to the development of unique, cost-effective tools tailored to the Nigerian environment—potentially saving the government millions in foreign exchange.
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