President Tinubu Approves Inter-ministerial Research, Innovation Committee

In a significant move to position Nigeria as a knowledge-driven economy, the Nigerian President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, has approved the establishment of an inter-ministerial Committee on Research and Innovation (IMC-RI).

This strategic governance mechanism aims to unify Nigeria’s fragmented research and innovation landscape and mobilise science-based solutions for national development.

The newly established committee will be chaired by Vice President Senator Kashim Shettima and coordinated by the Federal Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation, which will serve as its secretariat. This initiative represents the highest level of political commitment to aligning Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem with its broader economic transformation agenda.

Presidential Plenary on Innovation

As part of this strategic initiative, President Tinubu has also approved the convening of a Presidential Plenary on Innovation—the first of its kind in Nigeria’s history. This high-level forum will bring together senior government officials, academic leaders, top researchers, and private sector innovators to engage in discussions on developing a robust National System of Innovation (NSI). The plenary, which will be formally addressed by the President, underscores the administration’s dedication to science, technology, and innovation as key drivers of national development.

Also Read: Nigeria Commits to Creation of National Research, Innovation Council

According to an official communication from the Office of the Vice President, the IMC-RI will serve as a cross-ministerial platform to break down silos, leverage collective technical expertise, and deliver impact across four critical sectors:

Agriculture and Climate Resilience – Enhancing productivity through biotechnology, digital tools, and mechanisation.

Manufacturing Excellence – Strengthening domestic industrial capacity to reduce import dependency.

Healthcare Innovation – Developing local pharmaceutical and medical technology industries.

Natural Resource Optimisation – Driving innovation in the beneficiation of minerals and energy resources.

The committee comprises fourteen key ministries, spanning agriculture, industry, education, environment, finance, petroleum resources, trade and investment, digital economy, solid minerals, and more. This whole-of-government approach signals a paradigm shift in Nigeria’s research and innovation policy.

A Turning Point for Nigeria’s Innovation Strategy

“This is a critical turning point for Nigeria. We are no longer treating science and innovation as afterthoughts but placing them at the very centre of our development strategy where they belong,” an official statement declared.

The IMC-RI will hold its inaugural meeting on 17 April 2025 at the State House in Abuja. This interministerial coordination model mirrors global best practices in countries that have successfully transitioned into innovation-led economies.

Nigeria’s adoption of this model marks a new era of strategic foresight, research integration, and results-driven public sector collaboration.

“By bringing our brightest minds together across ministries, we will unlock the kind of breakthroughs needed to secure food systems, boost local production, and accelerate green industrialisation,” said Nasir Yammama, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Innovation.