ACCI, NPAC Push Research Commercialisation as Catalyst for Nigeria’s Industrial Growth
Oru Leonard
The Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), through its National Policy Advocacy Centre (NPAC), has intensified efforts to bridge the gap between research and industry, rallying key stakeholders to accelerate the commercialisation of research and innovation as a pathway to sustainable industrialisation and economic transformation in Nigeria.
Speaking at a high-level webinar themed, “From Lab to Market: Driving Nigeria’s Industrial Transformation through Research Commercialization,” the Second Deputy President of ACCI and Chairman of NPAC, Dr. Aliyu Idi Hong, said Nigeria possesses enormous research potential but continues to lose economic opportunities because many innovations never progress beyond the laboratory.
He stressed that stronger collaboration among government, academia, industry, investors and development partners is essential to build an innovation ecosystem that supports technology transfer, protects intellectual property, mobilises investment and scales indigenous innovations into commercially viable enterprises.
Delivering the keynote address on behalf of the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI), Engr. Dr. Kazeem Kolawole Raji, the agency’s Director of Procurement, Mr. Tukura Zakaria, said Nigeria’s long-term economic prosperity depends on its ability to transform research findings into market-ready products and successful businesses.
According to him, technology incubation serves as the vital bridge between research institutions and industry by providing mentorship, business support, market access and strategic partnerships that enable innovators to commercialise their ideas. He highlighted NBTI’s nationwide Technology Incubation Centres and youth entrepreneurship programmes as critical platforms driving indigenous innovation.
The NBTI also called for increased investment in technology incubation, stronger intellectual property protection, improved access to finance and greater support for young innovators, noting that such measures would strengthen the global competitiveness of “Made-in-Nigeria” products.
In a welcome address delivered on behalf of the Director General of ACCI, Mr. Agabaidu Jideani, the Executive Director of NPAC, Dr. Chidiebere Onwumere, reaffirmed the Chamber’s commitment to private sector-led industrialisation through evidence-based policy advocacy and strategic partnerships.
He explained that the webinar forms part of ACCI’s broader initiative to deepen collaboration between industry and research institutions while laying the foundation for a proposed National Forum on Commercialising Research and Innovation for Sustainable Industrial Growth.
The event attracted representatives from the National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI), National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP), Bank of Industry (BOI),
Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), African University of Science and Technology (AUST), research institutions, innovators, financial institutions, development partners and private sector operators.
Participants identified weak industry-research linkages, inadequate funding, limited commercialisation incentives, fragmented innovation ecosystems and insufficient intellectual property protection as major obstacles preventing research breakthroughs from becoming commercial products.
They advocated stronger partnerships among universities, research institutes, manufacturers, investors and government agencies, alongside expanded technology transfer platforms, innovation financing, institutional intellectual property policies and increased private sector participation in setting research priorities.
During the webinar, the National Board for Technology Incubation announced that its NextGen Innovation Showcase will hold on August 6, 2026, while the Bank of Industry reaffirmed its commitment to supporting partnerships that promote innovation-driven industrial development.
At the close of the session, stakeholders resolved to sustain engagement through a national forum that will develop a coordinated roadmap for research commercialisation in Nigeria.
Dr. Hong also directed the NPAC Secretariat to prepare a comprehensive report capturing the webinar’s recommendations to support future policy advocacy and implementation.
The participants concluded that unlocking the commercial value of Nigerian research is essential to creating jobs, reducing import dependence, boosting industrial competitiveness and driving inclusive economic growth.
