First Lady Praises Innovation Minister as ECoN Programme Takes Off in Kano

The First Lady of Nigeria, Oluremi Tinubu, has officially launched the Energise Commercialisation Now (ECoN) initiative in Kano, describing it as a major step towards transforming Nigeria’s innovation potential into economic prosperity.

Speaking at the event, the First Lady expressed delight at returning to Kano, which she described as a land of vast opportunities, recalling her National Youth Service days in the state.

She commended the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh, for conceptualising the initiative.

She called for sustained collaboration between the ministry and governors in the North-West region to ensure the long-term success of the programme, noting that Nigerian innovations continue to gain global recognition despite existing challenges.

In his remarks, the Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, described ECoN as a strategic intervention aimed at bridging the gap between research, innovation, and the marketplace.

He said the initiative would ensure that ideas from academic and research institutions are transformed into viable products.

The governor added that the presence of the First Lady underscored the Federal Government’s commitment to repositioning Nigeria from a nation of ideas to a nation driven by industrial growth.

Also speaking, the Minister, Kingsley Udeh, described ECoN as a transformative platform designed to connect research outputs with real economic value, noting that for years, many innovations remained confined to laboratories without access to markets or funding.

He revealed that the initiative would be implemented across all geopolitical zones, featuring investor-ready pitching sessions, deal rooms for innovators and investors, and a national platform to connect Nigerian innovations to global capital markets.

The Governor of Jigawa State, Umar Namadi, who spoke on behalf of the North-West Governors’ Forum, commended the initiative, stating that it would enhance job creation, economic growth, and strengthen Nigeria’s innovation-driven economy.