By Juliet Umeh

Nigerian businesses and UK innovation experts are to work together to develop and test solutions to challenges in six sectors under the Nigeria Innovation Cluster Exchange, NICE, programme.

The collaboration will begin with Pipeline Clinics for entrepreneurs and businesses in agro-processing in Kano, manufacturing in Abia and Ogun, health in Oyo, minerals in Akwa Ibom, and cybersecurity in Abuja.

NICE said the clinics would help participants identify business challenges, strengthen their operations and prepare for collaborative innovation sprints. During the sprints, participating clusters will work with Nigerian and UK partners to develop prototypes or proof-of-concept projects.

The initiative is implemented by The Nest Innovation Technology Park in partnership with the UK-Nigeria Tech Hub, with support from the Office for Nigerian Digital Innovation, ONDI.

The UK-Nigeria Tech Hub said: “Strong local innovation clusters are essential to unlocking Nigeria’s economic potential.

“Through the NICE Pipeline Clinics, we are equipping entrepreneurs and businesses with the practical tools, networks, and support needed to strengthen their competitiveness, address local challenges, and scale sustainable solutions.”

It added: “By investing in cluster-based innovation, we are helping to build stronger ecosystems where Nigerian businesses can collaborate, innovate, and thrive.”

According to NICE, the clinics will provide support in innovation management, prototyping, access to facilities and partners, and peer exchange. UK Experts-in-Residence will also share knowledge on innovation strategy, incubation models and technology validation, while Nigerian innovation leaders will take part in learning exchanges with UK clusters.

Co-founder of The Nest Innovation Technology Park, Oluwajoba Oloba, said the programme would build on cooperation between both countries.

“With NICE, we are forging a bridge to strengthen our organic innovation ecosystem, leveraging the years of collaboration between the Government of Nigeria and His Majesty’s Government,” Oloba said.

“The goal is to reflect what is possible when knowledge sharing goes hand in hand with available Government resources and partnership with institutions.”

He thanked the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, the UK Tech Hub and ONDI for their support.

NICE said applications for the Pipeline Clinics are open to Nigerian-owned or Nigeria-based businesses with an existing startup, prototype, product, service or clearly defined business model relevant to any of the six clusters. Applicants should also have a business challenge or growth opportunity they want to address through the programme.