The Federal Government on Wednesday announced the official deployment of the NASENI FutureMakers Initiative across its nationwide institutes.
This is part of efforts to transform Nigeria into a global technological hub.
Unveiled by the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure, Khalil Suleiman Halilu, the programme is specifically designed to identify and empower young innovators aged five to 16.
According to a statement issued by the Statehouse on Wednesday, utilising the agency’s specialised infrastructure, the programme aims to cultivate a generation of problem-solvers equipped to handle the challenges of the 21st century through early and deliberate investment in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).
Halilu stressed that Nigeria’s future prosperity is tied directly to how well it nurtures the minds of its youngest citizens today.
“Today, we take another step toward securing Nigeria’s long-term innovation future. Early exposure creates lifelong innovators, and Nigeria is joining that league through FutureMakers by NASENI,” he stated.
He explained that the initiative draws inspiration from successful global frameworks, such as the United States’ FIRST Robotics and India’s Atal Innovation Mission, to provide children with the technical confidence needed to move from being consumers of technology to becoming its creators.
The initiative will be facilitated through NASENI’s development institutes located across all six geopolitical zones, ensuring that children from every part of the country have access to prototyping tools and expert mentorship.
Halilu noted that this nationwide reach is critical for inclusivity, adding, “This is our way of securing Nigeria’s innovation stability over the next 30 to 50 years. We are creating a cycle where a child’s curiosity today becomes Nigeria’s gratitude tomorrow.”
The programme will involve hands-on training in engineering basics, robotics, and design thinking, providing a practical foundation that goes beyond traditional classroom learning.
The Special Adviser to the EVC on Commercialisation and Efficiency, Anas Balarabe Yazid, highlighted the importance of recognising potential before it is formally documented.
“It is about something deeper: believing in our children before the world has fully seen them, investing in their talent before their CV exists, and creating an experience that will stay with them for life—the moment they realised they can build things and solve real problems,” he remarked.
This sentiment reflects the government’s shift toward long-term human capital development as a pillar of national growth.
As the programme moves into its implementation phase, it will feature zonal hackathons and a national finale scheduled for February 2026. Top winners are expected to receive significant prizes, including scholarships to leading Nigerian universities and international study tours to expose them to global tech ecosystems.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on NASENI, Senator Francis Ezenwa Onyewuchi, concluded the session by calling for broad support, stating, “As we launch FutureMakers, let us renew our collective commitment to building a nation where creativity is elevated, ideas are supported, and the potential of every child is allowed to thrive. Innovation begins the moment a child is empowered to imagine.”
This National Youth Innovation Report discusses the broader context of NASENI’s recent establishment of 12 institutes designed to promote industrial growth across Nigeria.
