Funmilayo Caulcrick-Oluwapelumi on How InnovateNaija Is Spotlighting Innovators Across Nigeria

In a small market in Ibadan, Funmilayo Caulcrick-Oluwapelumi was struck by the ingenuity of a young entrepreneur, who had designed a low-cost water filtration system using locally sourced materials. This chance encounter sparked an idea - what if Nigeria's hidden innovators could be identified, supported, and amplified to tackle the country's most pressing problems? This is the vision behind InnovateNaija, a nationwide initiative funded by NASENI and implemented by AfriLabs to uncover grassroots innovators across Nigeria.

As a Senior Programmes Officer at AfriLabs, Funmilayo Caulcrick-Oluwapelumi manages programmes that strengthen innovation ecosystems across Africa. Her work at AfriLabs sits at the intersection of capacity building, grant portfolio management, and connecting African entrepreneurs to the structures they need to grow. InnovateNaija is a natural extension of this work, addressing the imbalance in innovation conversations that focus on major cities and established startup ecosystems. By partnering with NASENI, the funder of the initiative, AfriLabs brings its expertise in innovation ecosystem development, startup support, and pan-African networks to the table.

Too often, innovation conversations in Nigeria are concentrated around major cities, leaving behind communities that rarely receive national attention. Through InnovateNaija, AfriLabs is working to identify, amplify, fund, and support innovators from these underserved communities. This is made possible through a rigorous selection process, where innovators are evaluated based on their potential to create impactful solutions. Funmilayo Caulcrick-Oluwapelumi notes that, "InnovateNaija is not just about funding, it's about creating a supportive ecosystem that allows innovators to scale their ideas into impactful ventures."

The success of InnovateNaija relies on the collaboration between AfriLabs and NASENI. NASENI brings its mandate of driving indigenous technology development, engineering excellence, local manufacturing, and industrialisation in Nigeria, while AfriLabs provides its expertise in innovation ecosystem development, startup support, and pan-African networks. This partnership is crucial in providing innovators with access to funding, mentorship, and ecosystem support that will help their ideas scale. Funmilayo Caulcrick-Oluwapelumi observes that, "InnovateNaija is an ambitious and timely initiative that recognises the potential of grassroots innovators to drive positive change in Nigeria."

• InnovateNaija is a nationwide initiative funded by NASENI and implemented by AfriLabs to identify and support grassroots innovators across Nigeria.
• The initiative is focused on uncovering solutions from underserved communities and creating a supportive ecosystem that allows innovators to scale their ideas into impactful ventures.
• AfriLabs brings its expertise in innovation ecosystem development, startup support, and pan-African networks to the partnership with NASENI.

As a writer, I am struck by the ingenuity and resilience of Nigeria's grassroots innovators, who are solving real problems in innovative ways. InnovateNaija is evidence of the power of collaboration and the potential of these innovators to drive positive change in Nigeria. With its focus on creating a supportive ecosystem that allows innovators to scale their ideas, InnovateNaija is an ambitious and timely initiative that recognises the potential of grassroots innovators to drive positive change in Nigeria.

As I reflect on the story of InnovateNaija, I am reminded of the importance of amplifying the voices and ideas of grassroots innovators. It is their creativity, resourcefulness, and determination that will drive Nigeria's innovation agenda forward. With InnovateNaija, Nigeria is taking a significant step towards unlocking the potential of its innovators and creating a more inclusive and sustainable future.