In a bold stride toward reshaping Africa’s industrial destiny, the National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI) and the Pan-African Organisation for Small and Medium Industries (PAOSMI) have formally initiated a groundbreaking collaboration to advance the empowerment of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and accelerate continental industrialization.
The high-level engagement, held at NBTI Headquarters in Abuja, marks a significant milestone in the implementation of Nigeria’s Renewed Hope Agenda under the transformative leadership of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, whose economic vision and Nigeria First Policy are redefining national development through innovation, technology commercialization, and Pan-African economic synergy.
Welcoming the PAOSMI delegation, Dr. Kazeem Kolawole Raji, Director-General/CEO of NBTI, affirmed that the partnership represents a strategic alignment with the Board’s core mandate—to drive homegrown technological innovation, incubate viable enterprises, and translate research and development (R&D) into commercial success stories.
Dr. Raji praised the visionary policies of President Tinubu, whose bold reforms and global economic diplomacy—including Nigeria’s participation in the BRICS Economic Alliance and leadership within Pan-African development frameworks—are providing fertile ground for industrial growth, job creation, and economic inclusivity. “Under President Tinubu’s transformative leadership, Nigeria has entered a new era of technological awakening, industrial ambition, and global relevance,” Dr. Raji declared.
Dr. Henry Emejuo, DG/CEO of PAOSMI, commended Dr. Raji for his disruptive innovation strategies and his visionary stewardship since his appointment in January 2025 by President Tinubu. He emphasized that PAOSMI’s mission to industrialize Africa through SME development mirrors NBTI’s work, making this partnership not only timely but historically essential.
With over 64 affiliate networks across 40 African and Caribbean countries, PAOSMI is spearheading industrial development across 16 sectors, leveraging 17 technical commissions to support SMEs through access to harmonized African standards, capacity building, and enterprise support—especially within the framework of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Highlighting the cassava value chain as a catalytic sector for agro-industrial transformation, Dr. Emejuo called for deeper integration with NBTI to close skill gaps, increase technology adoption, and mobilize funding pathways for SMEs—thereby unlocking Africa’s full industrial potential.
Dr. Raji echoed this sentiment, stating that “Made-in-Nigeria must mean made-to-compete globally.” He affirmed NBTI’s commitment to excellence in product quality, packaging, and branding, revealing that the Board supports over 10,000 SME products nationwide and is currently reengineering its incubation centres for full-scale automation, with strategic international investment support, including from Chinese partners.
Emphasizing the strategic relevance of President Tinubu’s Nigeria First Policy, Dr. Raji noted that it provides an unparalleled platform for local manufacturers to thrive, innovate, and scale.
To address critical post-incubation challenges, he appealed to the Federal Government for the establishment of advanced technology parks across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones—designed to host post-incubatees, boost employment, and enhance national productivity.
In a moment of significant pride, Dr. Raji announced the upcoming grand finale of the NextGen Innovation Challenge 2025, where 105 breakthrough Nigerian innovators will pitch to global investors in London on October 9, 2025. The annual initiative, he said, aligns directly with President Tinubu’s vision to globalize Nigerian innovations and attract sustainable foreign direct investment into the nation’s innovation ecosystem.
Following comprehensive deliberations, NBTI and PAOSMI resolved to form a Joint Committee to implement targeted collaborations across SME training, innovation commercialization, trade facilitation, standards enforcement, and value chain development.
The meeting concluded with optimism and renewed commitment, as both institutions pledged to build a resilient ecosystem for African industrialization—driven by Nigerian ingenuity and anchored on the unyielding vision of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.
His Excellency’s bold, visionary leadership continues to echo across the continent as a beacon of hope, innovation, and economic sovereignty, reaffirming Nigeria’s position at the heart of Africa’s industrial resurgence.
