In a decisive move to accelerate Nigeria’s innovation-driven development agenda, the Honourable Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh, SAN, today paid a high-level courtesy visit to the United Nations Resident Coordinator, Mohammed Malik Fall, at the United Nations House.
The strategic engagement signals a renewed commitment by the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology (FMIST) to reposition Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) as a central pillar of Nigeria’s economic transformation, competitiveness, and inclusive growth.
Speaking during the meeting, Dr. Kingsley Udeh emphasized that Nigeria views Science, Technology and Innovation not merely as policy components, but as foundational instruments for sustainable economic growth, poverty reduction, job creation, and socio-economic inclusion.
He described the United Nations system as a critical strategic stakeholder within Nigeria’s STI ecosystem and stressed the need for stronger institutional alignment between FMIST and existing UN country programmes.
“Science, technology and innovation must serve as practical tools for transforming lives and unlocking Nigeria’s full potential. Through structured collaboration with the United Nations, we can develop bankable, transformative projects that deliver measurable national impact and position Nigeria as a leading STI hub in Africa,” the Minister stated.
He proposed the establishment of a structured UN–FMIST Working Group that will move engagement beyond periodic consultations toward actionable frameworks and joint implementation mechanisms.
The Minister identified key priority areas for collaboration which include:
• Technical support for commercialization of research outcomes
• Strengthening research-to-market frameworks
• Development of pipelines of bankable STI projects
• Identification of joint programmes capable of revolutionizing Nigeria’s innovation landscape
Dr. Udeh underscored that Nigeria must leverage global expertise, frameworks, and platforms within the UN system to accelerate research commercialization and unlock the economic value of innovation.
In his response, the UN Resident Coordinator, Mr. Mohammed Malik Fall welcomed the Honourable Minister, and reaffirmed the United Nations’ readiness to deepen collaboration with Nigeria in advancing sustainable development outcomes powered by innovation.
Mr. Fall referenced major global frameworks including the Pact for the Future, the Global Digital Compact, and the Declaration on Future Generations, noting that Science, Technology and Innovation are central pillars within these commitments.
He outlined the UN’s priority focus areas in Nigeria, which include:
• Expanding STI access across universities, communities, and the civil service
• Strengthening inter-ministerial and agency partnerships
• Advancing energy-for-development initiatives, including clean cooking solutions and green hydrogen
• Maximizing value from critical minerals
• Driving human capital development
• Organizing youth-centered STI hackathons to stimulate entrepreneurship and innovation
The Resident Coordinator emphasized the importance of coordination between FMIST, its agencies, and UN bodies to ensure coherence, eliminate duplication, and maximize development impact.
Also speaking at the meeting, the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Philip Ndiomu reiterated the Ministry’s commitment, emphasized that the Ministry will prioritize coordination across its departments and agencies to ensure effective implementation of agreed initiatives with the United Nations system.
He noted that strengthening internal capacity, improving policy coherence, and institutionalizing structured engagement mechanisms will be critical to delivering measurable results and sustaining long-term impact within Nigeria’s Science, Technology and Innovation ecosystem.
The meeting concluded with a mutual commitment to formalize a joint working structure, deepen institutional engagement, and establish practical mechanisms to drive innovation-led, inclusive, and sustainable development across Nigeria.
With this strategic alignment, FMIST has reinforced its determination to place Science, Technology and Innovation at the forefront of Nigeria’s national transformation agenda—leveraging global partnerships to unlock homegrown solutions with global relevance.
Mrs. Pauline Sule,anipr
Head, FMIST Press and Public Relations
