The drive to position Nigeria and Africa at the forefront of global innovation received another major boost as the Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) on the International Conference on Science, Technology, and Innovation (STICONF 2026) paid a strategic courtesy visit to the Director General/Chief Executive Officer of the National Centre for Technology Management (NACETEM), Dr. Olushola Odunsanya, at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja.
The high-level engagement forms part of ongoing consultations and partnership-building efforts aimed at strengthening participation and institutional collaboration ahead of STICONF 2026, one of Africa’s emerging platforms for advancing science, technology, innovation, research commercialization, and industrial transformation.
Leading the delegation, Chairman of the STICONF 2026 Inter-Ministerial Committee, Dr. Victor Fadipe, said the conference was conceived as a solution-driven platform designed to bridge the long-standing gap between research institutions, policymakers, innovators, industries, and investors across Africa.
According to him, Africa can no longer afford to operate within fragmented innovation systems if it hopes to compete in the rapidly evolving global knowledge economy.
“The future is now for Africa to deepen linkages between research institutions and industries through commercialization, innovation partnerships, and strategic investments in science and technology,” Dr. Fadipe stated.
He stressed that meaningful transformation within the Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) sector would only occur when stakeholders move beyond rhetoric and embrace practical, solution-oriented approaches capable of addressing economic and developmental challenges.
Dr. Fadipe further explained that STICONF 2026 seeks to create a sustainable ecosystem where government institutions, the private sector, academia, development partners, and innovators collaborate to promote a science and technology culture that is not only innovation-driven but also economically impactful.
Also speaking during the visit, the Co-Chairman of the Inter-Ministerial Committee and Founder of the WelcometoNigeria Development Initiative, Mr. Sago, emphasized that collaboration remains the cornerstone for building a globally competitive STI ecosystem in Africa.
He noted that science, technology, and innovation must be treated as a strategic development instrument beyond policy declarations, adding that effective implementation frameworks backed by institutional commitment and accountability mechanisms are critical to achieving meaningful progress.
According to him, the Committee is seeking a strategic partnership with NACETEM that will strengthen stakeholder engagement, stimulate innovation-focused dialogue, and position STICONF 2026 as a transformative platform for advancing Science, Technology and Innovation in Nigeria and across the African continent.
Mr. Sago added that the conference is expected to attract policymakers, researchers, innovators, entrepreneurs, investors, development institutions, universities, technical experts, and industry leaders from within and outside Africa, thereby creating opportunities for collaboration, investment, policy reforms, and commercialization of research outputs.
Welcoming the delegation, the Director General of NACETEM, Dr. Olushola Odunsanya, commended the initiative and described STICONF 2026 as a timely intervention capable of stimulating critical discussions around the future of Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem.
He urged the Committee to ensure that the conference programme is built around practical, high-impact, and solution-driven thematic sessions that directly address the pressing challenges confronting the STI sector in Nigeria and Africa.
“Science and technology remain our core mandate at NACETEM, and we are pleased to see a conference of this magnitude being championed by the Ministry in collaboration with critical stakeholders and the private sector,” Dr. Odunsanya said.
“This conference presents a unique opportunity for serious conversations around the challenges affecting the STI ecosystem in Nigeria, especially considering some policy inconsistencies that continue to constrain growth and innovation within the sector.”
The NACETEM Director General further highlighted the importance of the National Research and Innovation Council as a strategic mechanism capable of addressing institutional gaps and strengthening the coordination of science, technology, and innovation policies in Nigeria.
He expressed confidence that STICONF 2026 would provide a credible platform for meaningful engagement, knowledge exchange, policy formulation, and implementable outcomes capable of driving national development and regional competitiveness.
Dr. Odunsanya also assured the Committee of NACETEM’s support and active participation in the conference, reaffirming the agency’s commitment to initiatives that promote innovation, technological advancement, capacity development, and sustainable economic growth.
He stressed the urgent need for deliberate and coordinated strategies aimed at transforming the economic landscape of Nigeria and Africa through technology commercialization, innovation management, and stronger institutional partnerships.
While applauding the vision behind STICONF 2026, he encouraged the Committee to expand its stakeholder engagement efforts by bringing more public and private sector leaders into the conversation, particularly heads of institutions and organizations whose participation could deepen policy discussions and strengthen actionable outcomes.
As preparations intensify for STICONF 2026, the Inter-Ministerial Committee continues to engage key stakeholders across government institutions, academia, development agencies, diplomatic missions, research organizations, industries, and the private sector to build momentum for what is expected to become one of Africa’s leading international gatherings on science, technology, and innovation.
Scheduled to convene top decision-makers, innovators, investors, entrepreneurs, scholars, and development partners, STICONF 2026 is strategically positioned to drive conversations around innovation ecosystems, digital transformation, research commercialization, industrial development, youth innovation, sustainable technologies, and Africa’s economic future.
The conference is expected to serve as a catalyst for stronger partnerships, transformative ideas, investment opportunities, and policy actions capable of accelerating Africa’s transition into a knowledge-driven and innovation-powered economy.
