NASENI unveils innovation programme for children

The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure has officially launched FutureMakers, a flagship national innovation programme designed to discover, develop, and empower Nigerian children between the ages of five and 16 with the skills and confidence to create solutions for real-world challenges.

The launch event, held at the NASENI Innovation Hub in the Idu Industrial Area, Abuja, brought together top government officials, innovation leaders, education stakeholders, partners, and media representatives. The programme marks a significant step in Nigeria’s long-term commitment to building a new generation of creators, inventors, and problem-solvers.

Speaking at the event, the Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of NASENI, Khalil Halilu, emphasised the importance of catching children young and investing in their creative potential, saying, “If we want a future of world-class innovators, we must start shaping them early. Nations that lead in innovation began by investing in young people, and today, NASENI is taking that bold step through FutureMakers. Early exposure creates lifelong innovators.”

He added, “FutureMakers is not an isolated project; it is part of a long-term national strategy. We are building a steady pipeline of young creators who will shape Nigeria’s innovation destiny for the next 30 to 50 years. Innovative thinking is how nations rise.”

The Head of the NASENI Innovation Hub and Programme Manager, Racheal Perez-Folayan, described the programme as a transformational platform that will redefine how Nigerian children engage with creativity and innovation.

She said, “FutureMakers is designed to identify, nurture, and empower young innovators from ages five to 16, helping them transform their ideas into prototypes built for the future.”

She continued, “Our mission is to groom the next generation of innovative leaders who will develop groundbreaking, commercially viable solutions and strengthen Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem. This programme is more than a competition; it is a national movement to cultivate young problem-solvers who will shape the country’s technological future.”

FutureMakers will be implemented nationwide through NASENI Institutes across the six geopolitical zones, ensuring inclusivity and equal participation for children in every state.

Registration opened on December 11, 2025, and closes on January 11, 2026; evaluation and shortlisting will be held from January  12 to 16, 2026. Zonal hackathons will be held from January 26 to 30, 2026, while the national innovation finale will take place on February 14, 2026.

Participants will undergo design-thinking exercises, mentorship, hands-on innovation training, and pitching sessions during the hackathons. Winners and outstanding participants will receive up to N5m, scholarships, mentorship and innovation coaching, the opportunity to join NASENI Innovation Clubs, access to incubation and acceleration programmes, and an international study tour for top finalists.

These pathways are designed to ensure that the ideas generated during the programme can progress into viable prototypes, solutions, and early-stage ventures. The EVC encouraged children, parents, teachers, and schools nationwide to embrace the initiative: “You are not too young to build something that matters. Every global innovator started with exactly what you have today: one idea and the courage to try.”

NASENI also urged school administrators and educators to actively support students through awareness, idea development guidance, and programme registration.

Children aged 5–16 living in Nigeria can now apply through the official portal, while the application deadline is 11 January 2026.

FutureMakers by NASENI is a national innovation initiative designed to inspire creativity and develop problem-solving, design-thinking, and early engineering skills in children. The programme helps young learners identify real problems around them and encourages them to build meaningful solutions through structured national activities.