Nigeria’s Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Chief Uche Nnaji, has called on stakeholders across sectors to break disciplinary boundaries and embrace interdisciplinary collaboration in tackling the climate crisis—while tapping into the $10 trillion global green economy projected by 2050.
Speaking through his Special Assistant, Dr. Patricks Oghuma, at a climate change conference hosted by Godfrey Okoye University in Enugu, the Minister emphasized the urgent need for Nigeria to confront climate threats while leveraging the economic opportunities they present.
“From desertification in the North to floods in the South, the risks are real—but so are the rewards,” he noted, urging academia, government, and the private sector to partner and convert research into scalable, real-world solutions.
Despite Nigerian universities developing innovations in areas like biofuels, solar technology, and drought-resistant crops, Nnaji lamented that too many patents remain unused. He emphasized the need for commercialization pathways to bring these ideas to market.
“Nigeria’s vibrant startup ecosystem, supported by President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and growing STI (Science, Technology, and Innovation) sector, positions the country to become Africa’s innovation hub,” he added.
The Minister highlighted several national initiatives including:
A Technology Action Plan for Climate Mitigation and Adaptation across energy, agriculture, and industry.
The Global Cleantech Innovation Programme (GCIP) aimed at fostering climate tech solutions through university-industry collaborations.
A National Policy on Methanol Fuel Production Technology to drive clean energy use across sectors.
A 2,600MW solar module deal with LONGi Solar France SARL to power Nigeria’s Green Hydrogen Hub in Akwa Ibom—one of the largest clean energy projects in sub-Saharan Africa.
Nnaji also revealed that President Tinubu has approved the creation of an Inter-Ministerial Committee on Research and Innovation, with the Ministry of Innovation, Science, and Technology serving as secretariat. The initiative seeks to dismantle long-standing silos across MDAs and foster a unified innovation strategy.
“The climate challenge cannot be solved in isolation,” he said. “Whether you’re a scientist, entrepreneur, artist, or policymaker—your input matters. It’s time to collaborate, innovate, and co-create solutions that secure our future and environment.”
