The Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) on the International Conference on Science, Technology, and Innovation (STICONF 2026) has paid a courtesy visit to the Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), Professor Idris Muhammad Bugaje, at the Board’s liaison office in Abuja, as part of ongoing stakeholder engagements ahead of the landmark international conference.

The delegation was led by Dr. Victor Fadipe, Head of the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Department of the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, and Chairman of the IMC/Local Organising Committee (LOC) for STICONF 2026. He was accompanied by Mr. Isa Yusuf Sago, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of WelcometoNigeria Development Initiative (WeNDI) and Co-Chairman of the IMC/LOC, alongside other distinguished members of the committee.

Members of the delegation included Dr. Ezinne Orisakwe of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Dr. Comfort Awakoyi of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Mr. Auwal Bununu of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), and Engineer Kenneth Enebuse of the Energy Commission of Nigeria.

The purpose of the visit was to brief the NBTE leadership on the objectives, strategic relevance, and expected outcomes of STICONF 2026, while also seeking the Board’s active participation and support towards mobilizing polytechnics and technical institutions across Nigeria to participate in the conference.

Speaking during the visit, Dr. Victor Fadipe conveyed greetings from the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science, and Technology, who nominated him to chair the committee. He expressed appreciation to Professor Bugaje for granting the delegation audience despite his demanding schedule.

According to Dr. Fadipe, the IMC comprises representatives from over 30 strategic government agencies and private sector organizations, all working collaboratively to ensure broad stakeholder participation in the conference due to its significance to science, technology, and innovation (STI) development in Nigeria and across Africa.

He explained that STICONF 2026 was originally conceived by WelcometoNigeria Development Initiative (WeNDI), while the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science, and Technology embraced the initiative because it aligns strongly with the Ministry’s mandate to drive innovation, scientific advancement, and technology-based national development.

Dr. Fadipe further noted that the conference was designed as a strategic international platform aimed at addressing longstanding gaps in the STI ecosystem through structured and result-oriented collaboration among research institutions, industry leaders, policymakers, investors, and development partners.

“The conference seeks to bridge the disconnect between research outputs and industrial application by strengthening institutional and industry linkages that will accelerate innovation, industrialisation and inclusive economic growth,” he stated.

He added that the conference aligns with Nigeria’s aspirations for knowledge-driven economic growth, technological competitiveness and sustainable industrial transformation.

Themed “Bridging the Technology Divide: Strengthening Research Institutions–Industry Technology Linkages,” STICONF 2026 is scheduled to hold from June 16 to 18 at the TY Danjuma Foundation Complex, Abuja.

The committee specifically appealed to the NBTE to facilitate the participation of polytechnics and technical institutions nationwide, particularly in showcasing innovative inventions, research breakthroughs, practical solutions and technological prototypes developed by students and faculty members.

The delegation emphasized that the conference would also create opportunities for skilled innovators, researchers and technical experts to connect with investors, industry stakeholders and development opportunities capable of commercialising and scaling their innovations.

In his remarks, Mr. Isa Yusuf Sago, Founder and CEO of WelcometoNigeria Development Initiative (WeNDI), thanked Professor Bugaje for graciously accepting to serve as one of the keynote speakers at the conference.

He praised the NBTE Executive Secretary for his immense contributions to technical education, skills development and vocational empowerment in Nigeria, describing him as one of the foremost advocates of practical and industry-driven education reforms in the country.

Mr. Sago noted that the science, technology and innovation ecosystem in Nigeria continues to benefit immensely from Professor Bugaje’s wealth of experience, visionary leadership and pragmatic approach to skills acquisition and national development.

Responding, Professor Idris Bugaje thanked the delegation for the visit and commended the initiative behind STICONF 2026, while expressing concern over the current state of Nigeria’s STI sector.

He stressed the need for stakeholders to pursue practical and implementable strategies capable of transforming research outcomes into real industrial and economic value.

Professor Bugaje emphasized that skills acquisition and technical competence remain the backbone of industrialisation globally and urged the committee to ensure that the conference prioritises practical solutions that can stimulate inclusive growth and sustainable national development.

“The STI sector requires practical actions and realistic implementation strategies. Around the world, skills development has consistently proven to be the foundation for industrialisation and economic competitiveness,” he stated.

The NBTE boss assured the delegation of the Board’s full support and active participation in STICONF 2026, including efforts to mobilise polytechnics and technical institutions to showcase their innovations and contribute meaningfully to the conference.

The courtesy visit forms part of a broader nationwide stakeholder engagement strategy by the IMC to galvanize institutional support, foster strategic partnerships, and ensure the successful hosting of STICONF 2026 as a transformative platform for science, technology, and innovation advancement in Nigeria and Africa.