The Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Chief Uche Nnaji has reiterated the government’s commitment to supporting small and medium enterprises (SMEs) as vital drivers of socio-economic growth and development.
Speaking at the launch of the Global Cleantech Innovation Programme in Abuja, Nnaji highlighted the critical role that start-ups and SMEs play in driving economic development, enhancing renewable energy access, and contributing to climate change mitigation efforts. He noted that these enterprises often face significant challenges in commercializing and scaling their solutions due to insufficient policy and regulatory support, limited financing opportunities, and a generally weak innovation ecosystem.
“Today, we embark on a journey of transformative change, driven by the collective efforts of the Global Cleantech Innovation Programme (GCIP),” Nnaji said. “This UNIDO-led initiative, sponsored by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), aims to bridge the gap between cleantech entrepreneurs and the market, often referred to as the ‘valley of death,’ by providing competitive business acceleration services for innovative cleantech start-ups and SMEs. It seeks to foster an enabling environment for innovation and entrepreneurship in the country.”
In a statement by the ministry’s deputy director of press and public relations Atuora Obed, the minister emphasised that, with valuable support from UNIDO, the ministry aims to build, strengthen, and interconnect the institutional capacity of stakeholders. This includes developing policy regulations and recommendations, promoting linkages and collaborations across the Global Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE) and ensuring gender and youth mainstreaming into the nation’s economy.
The minister commended all stakeholders for their unwavering support and commitment to creating a sustainable future for Nigeria.
Speaking at the event, the permanent secretary at the ministry, Mrs. Esuabana Nko Asanye noted that the programme aims to boost the capacities of SMEs to improve economic growth and maintain clean energy in the country. She added that it will help reduce the use of fossil fuels and firewood thereby curbing carbon emissions.
Earlier, the national programme coordinator for UNIDO, Mr. Oluyomi Banjo underscored the need for clean technology to enhance climate change mitigation and fulfill the Paris Agreement obligations. He highlighted that the cleantech programme seeks to build robust innovation ecosystems that can identify and systematically support high-impact cleantech innovations and attract large-scale investments.
“This programme will not only cement Nigeria’s status as an emerging economic and technological giant but also ensure we meet our climate change goals,” Banjo concluded.
