NASENI InnovateNaija Challenge For Nigerian Young Innovators and Students (Win Up to N100 Million Grant Prizes)

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Applications are now open for NASENI InnovateNaija Challenge. Are you a young Nigerian with a homegrown, game-changing product in science, engineering, or manufacturing? Apply now for the InnovateNaija Challenge, open to Nigerians aged 15–40 nationwide and stand a chance to win #100million Naira.

The Innovate Naija Challenge is designed to spark nationwide excitement and online engagement by identifying, empowering, and supporting innovative youths across Nigeria. Through creative video submissions, participants will showcase their inventions or ideas for a chance to receive funding, with 37 winners selected from across the country. The challenge aims to ignite creativity and generate vibrant energy within Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem, using social media to create a dynamic, high-energy movement that celebrates local talent and ingenuity.

Campaign Goals

Empower Nigerian Innovators
- Empower Nigerian Innovators through direct support and national recognition.
Strengthen Nigeria’s Innovation Ecosystem
- Strengthen Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem via partnerships with the private sector and academia.
Fast-track Economic Diversification
- Fast-track economic diversification by supporting local solutions to local problems.
Promote a culture of Innovation
- Promote a culture of innovation at all levels from grassroots to industry.

NASENI InnovateNaija Challenge Prizes and Benefits

There are cash prizes up for grabs at the different stages of the challenge. The grand winner will receive a grant of N100 million to further develop and scale their product.
State-Level Selection (Top 37)
- The highest-voted video from each state (including the FCT) wins ₦2.5 million and will be invited to participate in another round of voting.
National Stage & Final Selection
- The 37 state winners will submit a second video for another round of public voting, determining the top 15. These finalists will be invited to Abuja for a live pitch event, where a panel of expert judges will evaluate their innovations.
- Based on these evaluations, the top three winners will be selected and awarded as follows: ₦100 million for first place, ₦30 million for second place, and ₦20 million for third place.

Who Can Apply?

Innovators and Inventors
- Young Nigerian innovators within the ages of 15-40 who have designed products and solutions within the science, engineering and manufacturing sector. Individuals passionate about tech, creativity and providing solution to real world challenges including from the grassroots.
Students, Researchers and STEM Professionals
- Young Nigerians engaged in science, technology, engineering across the Nation.

Eligibility Criteria for NASENI InnovateNaija Challenge

Must be a citizen of Nigeria.
Must currently reside in Nigeria (temporary visitors or students abroad are not eligible).
Open to youths of ages 15-40
Innovative products must be at any of these stages: Prototype or Fully Developed. Products still at Idea stages are NOT eligible for the application.
Innovative products must be within the science engineering and manufacturing sector.
Innovation must be original and created by the applicant or team.
Innovation must solve a local problem or improve community life.
Applicants can submit ideas in English or local language with translation (if possible).
Application is open to individuals or teams. For teams, one member must be designated as the primary contact.
Applicants must be emerging talents and grassroots inventors, not fully-funded startups.
Low-tech or no-tech solutions are welcome! Tech-enabled is great but not required.
Innovation must be applicable or adaptable to the Nigerian context.
Each applicant/team can only submit one innovation.
Each applicant/team must have at least an instagram handle/account

How To Apply for NASENI InnovateNaija Challenge

All applicants are expected to submit
- An application via the NASENI Innovation Hub Website.(https://innovation.naseni.gov.ng).
- A 2 minute video pitch via instagram and twitter showcasing their innovation and its societal impact and tagging NASENI and NASENI Innovation Hub on Instagram (@nasenihq, @nasenhub), and on X, formerly known as Twitter (@NASENIHQ, @Nasenihub).
- Using the following mandatory hashtags: #InnovateNaija, #NASENI #NASENIInnovationHub #YouthInnovation #NASENIImpact.
What are the video format requirements?
- All applicants must submit a 2-minute video pitch. That should showcase your innovative product and its potential societal impact.
- The video should be clear, engaging, and effectively communicate the problem, solution, and impact in the allotted 2 minutes.
- Your video should be in the following format and size: MP4, MOV, Max 100MB.

Click Here to Apply and for more details

Application Deadline: October 4, 2025.