The Kano State Government has announced that Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, is expected to officially launch the North-West zonal deployment of the “Energise Commercialisation Now (ECoN)” initiative in Kano, a flagship programme of the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology aimed at accelerating innovation and industrial development across the country.
The three-day event, scheduled for April 23 to 25, 2026, will convene policymakers, researchers, industry leaders and international partners to promote the commercialisation of locally developed innovations.
The initiative is designed to strengthen linkages between research outputs and market opportunities, particularly in science and technology-driven sectors.
Speaking at a press briefing, the Kano State Commissioner for Information, Ibrahim Waiya, confirmed that the First Lady will serve as Special Guest of Honour at the launch ceremony.
He noted that the programme reflects both federal and state collaboration in advancing innovation-led growth.
According to the schedule, the first day of the programme will focus on national mobilisation and policy direction, featuring keynote addresses from the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology and the Governor of Kano State, Abba Kabir Yusuf.
The second day will centre on innovation showcases, including pitch sessions, technical evaluations and dialogue between academia and industry stakeholders aimed at developing investment-ready solutions.
The final day will focus on financing and commercialisation, with structured deal rooms designed to connect innovators with investors and facilitate formal agreements such as Memoranda of Understanding.
The initiative is expected to address long-standing challenges in the North-West region, where agricultural, textile and mineral potential has not been fully translated into commercially viable products. It also aims to support intellectual property development, access to funding and participation in international trade platforms, including the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) 2027.
To coordinate preparations, the state has established a Local Organising Committee, chaired by the Secretary to the State Government, Umar Farouk Ibrahim, to oversee logistics and stakeholder engagement.
All seven North-West states—Kaduna, Katsina, Kano, Kebbi, Sokoto, Jigawa and Zamfara—are expected to participate by showcasing innovations from academic institutions and industrial sectors.
Organisers expressed confidence that the programme will generate a national innovation asset register, attract private and public investment into viable technologies and strengthen collaboration between academia and industry.
The Kano State Government added that the initiative aligns with its broader agenda on job creation, wealth generation and export-oriented industrialisation.
The government called on media organisations and stakeholders to support the initiative through sustained coverage and public engagement ahead of the event.
