The Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh, SAN, has pledged government support for Nigerian entrepreneurs who represented the country at the World Startup Championship, See Pakistan 2026.
Udeh spoke on Thursday, 17 September 2026, while receiving the eight Nigerian entrepreneurs sponsored by the National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI) following their participation in the international competition in Pakistan.
The minister congratulated the innovators for competing on a global platform and returning with awards.
He said the competition was significant because it focused on practical innovation, entrepreneurship, job creation and turning ideas into marketable products.
“It relates to practice, it relates to entrepreneurship, it relates to job creation, it relates to development of ideas into marketplace products, and we are proud of you,” he said.
Udeh said supporting the commercialisation of Nigerian innovations remained one of his priorities as minister.
“What they require is support to translate their ideas to products, to translate their innovation to industry, to translate their research outcomes to revenue, and that’s what you represent,” he said.
He added that the government would work to move the entrepreneurs’ innovations from their current stage towards commercialisation.
The minister also asked the innovators to submit one-page executive summaries detailing their products, achievements and what they required to take their businesses to the next level.
Nigeria wins two awards
Speaking on behalf of the entrepreneurs, Ndotehyin Kingsley Ekanem said Team Nigeria emerged with two awards at the championship.
The team won the Country Award in the Growth and Innovation Category, while Zara of Nature’s Sleek Limited, Technology Incubation Centre (TIC), Minna, Niger State, won the Individual Award for Best Skincare and Beauty Products.
Ekanem said the championship attracted more than 4,000 applications from over 40 countries.
He said the entrepreneurs benefited from NBTI’s Technology Incubation Programme, including training in ISO 9001:2024, project management, export preparedness and corporate marketing.
According to him, the Nigerian team also had opportunities to engage venture capitalists, angel investors and potential business partners during the event.
“We exhibited unity, courage and the true attributes of a Nigerian entrepreneur,” Ekanem said.
Entrepreneurs seek further support
The entrepreneurs appealed to the Federal Government to provide financial assistance to help commercialise their products internationally.
They also asked the minister to facilitate their presentation to President Bola Tinubu for national recognition and urged the NBTI and federal government to engage their respective state governments on facilities and infrastructure.
They said such support would enable them to establish permanent production facilities, expand operations and create jobs.
The team also requested ₦6.83m per participant from NBTI to cover additional expenses incurred during the trip, including extended accommodation, local transportation, feeding and flight-related logistics.
The eight entrepreneurs represented different Technology Incubation Centres across Nigeria.
Their products include a medical oxygen generator, unripe plantain baking flour, food products, shea butter-based haircare products, kilishi and damban nama, a digital business platform, a farm management system and direct carbon-capture technology.
1. Name: Ndotehyin Kingsley Ekanem.
* Product: Medical Oxygen generator
* Address: TIC Uyo, LATENT SIMULATION WORKS LIMITED
* Email: kingsleyek@gmail.com
* Phone: 08033770011
Signed:
2. Name: Alawode Olukemi Folasade.
* Product: UNRIPE PLANTAIN BAKING FLOUR. (Healthy alternative to wheat flour)
* Address: T.I.C, ILE IFE. (Green Oasis Foods)
* Phone: 08033516013
* Email: greenoasisfoodng@gmail.com
Signed: [Signature]
3. Name: Saidat Omowumi Dauda
* Product: Guinea Corn Millet (Dried Pap), Beans Flour, Gari, Odourless Fufu, Growth Mate Cereal (Baby Food), Plantain Flour.
* Company’s name: Abisal Megatop Limited.
* Address: TIC IBADAN.
* Email: abisalfoods@gmail.com
* Phone number: 08134411472
Signed: [Signature 17/9/2026]
4. Name: Uthman Fatimah Zahra
* Product: Shea butter and Shea butter based hair care products
* Company’s name: Nature’s Sleek Limited.
* Address: TIC MINNA.
* Email: Naturessteek88@gmailcom
* Phone: +2347035622108
Signed: [Signature]
5. Name: Asma Begum Mirza
* Products: Kilishi and Damban Nama
* Company: Muhammad and Roshaneh Farms Ltd
* Address: TIC Kaduna
* Contact: tel: +2348027413277
* Email: abmirzanig@yahoo.com
* Website: www.muhammedandroshanehfarmsltd.com
Signed: [Signature]
6. Name: Olabode Owoeye
* Product: DeployIQ
* Company: Porter & Briggs Ltd (A sub of AllPrint Management Ltd)
* Address: TIC Lagos
* Website: www.deployIQ.ng
* Contact: info@deployIQ.ng
* Phone No: 08065487889
Signed: [Signature]
7. Name: Umar Rabiu Oyakhilome
* Product: 9jaFarm Management System
* Company: Green-Tech Visionary Enterprise Limited
* Address: TIC Bauchi
* Email: greentechve@gmail.com
* Number: +2347067677235
Signed: [Signature]
8. Name: Bernard Emeka Eme
* Product: Air pollution strainers (APS) Direct carbon capture from the source of emissions.
* Company: Benemes Nigeria limited.
* Address: TIC Port Harcourt.
* Phone: 08030981150
* Email: benemesengineering@gmail.com
* Website: www.Benemes international. Com
