By Gabriel Ameh, Abuja
Nigerian entrepreneurs who secured two major awards at the 2026 SEE Pakistan World Startup Championship have called for stronger government support to help them scale their businesses, create jobs and take their products to international markets.
The eight-member Nigerian delegation returned from Lahore, Pakistan, with the Country Award for Growth and Innovation, while Zara of Nature’s Sleek Limited, supported by the National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI) Technology Incubation Centre in Minna, Niger State, won the Best Skincare and Beauty Products Award.
The Nigerian participants said the recognition, which came after a competition that attracted more than 4,000 applications from over 40 countries, demonstrated the ability of Nigerian entrepreneurs to compete on the global stage.
However, they stressed that international recognition would have greater impact if backed by access to funding, production facilities, infrastructure and other forms of business support.
Speaking on behalf of the delegation, Mr Ndotehyin Kingsley Ekanem, developer of a medical oxygen generator, appealed to the Federal Government to provide financial support that would enable the entrepreneurs commercialise and expand their innovations.
Ekanem also called for the entrepreneurs to be presented to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for national recognition, arguing that such recognition could further encourage innovation and entrepreneurship among young Nigerians.
The entrepreneurs also urged the NBTI and the Federal Government to engage state governments on providing suitable facilities and infrastructure for the establishment of permanent production centres.
They said access to such facilities would enable them increase production, expand their operations, create employment opportunities and contribute more to economic activity in their respective communities.
The delegation further requested ₦6.83 million per participant in logistics support to cover additional expenses incurred during the Pakistan trip, including extended accommodation, local transportation, feeding and flight-related costs.
From NBTI incubation to international competition
According to the team, their participation in the international championship followed an initiative by the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology and NBTI, which invited entrepreneurs from various technology incubation centres to nominate participants in June.
Ekanem said the selected entrepreneurs subsequently underwent preparation through the NBTI Technology Incubation Programme.
The training covered areas including ISO 9001:2024, project management, export preparedness and corporate marketing, among other business development activities.
He said the programme helped prepare the participants for the competition and their interactions with venture capitalists, angel investors and potential business partners.
The Nigerian delegation also took part in a pre-competition boot camp and exhibited their products at booths during the championship.
Ekanem said the Nigerian exhibition stands attracted interest from participants and visitors, creating opportunities for business-to-business and business-to-consumer engagements.
Nature’s Sleek wins skincare award
The individual award won by Nature’s Sleek Limited came with promised financial support of 100,000 Pakistani rupees, estimated by the team at approximately ₦490,000.
The achievement added to Nigeria’s recognition at the competition, where the country also received the Country Award for Growth and Innovation.
NBTI commends entrepreneurs
Commenting on the achievement, NBTI Director-General and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Kazeem Kolawole Raji, commended the entrepreneurs and NBTI personnel involved in preparing the delegation.
He particularly acknowledged the contributions of centre managers, technical officers and mentors who supported the participants throughout the process.
Raji said the awards showed that Nigerian innovations could compete internationally when entrepreneurs have access to appropriate incubation, mentorship and business development support.
He added that NBTI would continue to strengthen its technology incubation system while connecting Nigerian entrepreneurs with international markets, investors, mentors and strategic partners.
The SEE Pakistan organisers provided participating countries with platforms to showcase their products and interact with potential investors and business partners.
For the Nigerian entrepreneurs, the awards represent international validation of their innovations. They now want government and institutional support to help translate that recognition into sustainable businesses capable of producing at scale, creating employment and contributing to Nigeria’s export potential.
