Nigeria takes an initiative in nurturing the next generation of innovators with the launch of FutureMakers, a national program that offers children aged 5-16 the chance to win up to N5 million while solving real-world problems through technology and innovation.
The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) unveiled this ambitious initiative recently at its Innovation Hub in Abuja, bringing together government officials, education leaders, and technology experts to witness what could reshape Nigeria’s innovation landscape for decades to come.
Children Get Early Start in Innovation Race
FutureMakers breaks new ground by targeting extremely young innovators, recognising that countries leading global innovation began investing in their children early. The program opens applications to students and skilled artisans between the ages of 5 and 16, giving them access to mentorship, training, and substantial financial rewards.
“If we want a future of world-class innovators, we must start shaping them early,” said Khalil Halilu, NASENI’s Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “Nations that lead in innovation began by investing in young people, and today NASENI is taking that bold step through FutureMakers.”
According to NASENI’s baseline research, only 1 percent of Nigerian children aged 5-16 currently possess innovation skills. The agency aims to close this critical gap through structured programming that transforms curious young minds into problem-solving innovators.
Program Structure Spans Six Months with National Competition
The FutureMakers program is operating across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones to ensure nationwide participation. Registration opened December 11 and closes January 11, 2026, followed by evaluation and shortlisting from January 12-16.
Participants advance through three distinct phases:
Pre-Hack Phase: Selected children receive design-thinking workshops, mentorship sessions, and hands-on innovation training to develop their ideas into functional concepts.
Hackathon Phase: Young innovators spend one intensive week in their respective zones, forming teams, building prototypes, and receiving training in leadership and business development. Each zone selects their top three innovations through competitive pitching.
National Finale: The six zonal winners converge in Abuja on February 14, 2026, for the NASENI Invention Festival, where they compete for the grand prize and national recognition.
Major Prizes and Long-term Support Available
Winners receive substantial rewards designed to sustain their innovation journey. The national champion takes home N5 million, while first, second, and third positions also receive significant cash prizes. Additional benefits include university scholarships, international study tours with the Executive Vice Chairman, and access to NASENI’s incubation programs.
“FutureMakers offers these bright young minds more than a platform; it gives them a voice,” said Senator Ezenwa Francis Onyewuchi, Chairman of the Senate Committee on NASENI. “Through design thinking, creative workshops and prototype development, they will learn how to turn ideas into real, practical solutions.”
Focus Areas Address Regional Challenges
The program identifies specific innovation themes for each geopolitical zone, addressing local challenges that young minds can tackle:
- North West Zone: Gender barriers to innovation and innovative thinking
- North Central Zone: Food security challenges from regional insurgency
- North East Zone: Conflict and security issues
- South West Zone: Higher education costs affecting average families
- South South Zone: Weak academia-industry integration
- South East Zone: Children engaging in trading instead of schooling
This targeted approach ensures young innovators work on problems they understand firsthand, increasing the likelihood of practical, implementable solutions.
Building Nigeria’s Innovation Pipeline for Three Decades
Racheal Perez-Folayan, Head of NASENI Innovation Hub and program manager, emphasized that FutureMakers represents more than a competition. “Our mission is to groom the next generation of innovative leaders who will develop groundbreaking, commercially viable solutions and strengthen Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem,” she explained.
NASENI positions this initiative as part of a 30-50 year national strategy to build a continuous pipeline of young creators who will drive Nigeria’s technological advancement. The agency plans to measure success through annual participation numbers and how many children progress into higher-level innovation programs.
National Movement Encourages Early Problem-Solving
Unlike traditional educational programs that focus on theoretical knowledge, FutureMakers emphasises practical problem-solving from an early age. Participants learn to identify challenges in their communities and develop technology-based solutions through hands-on experience.
“You are not too young to build something that matters,” Halilu told potential participants. “Every global innovator started with exactly what you have today: one idea and the courage to try.”
The program accepts applications from both students and skilled artisans aged 5-16, recognising that innovation potential exists across different educational backgrounds and socioeconomic situations.
Registration Open Until January 11, 2026
Nigerian children aged 5-16 can apply through NASENI’s online portal, with the application window closing on January 11, 2026. The agency encourages parents, teachers, and school administrators to actively support student participation by promoting awareness and guiding idea development.
NASENI operates this program through its institutes across all six geopolitical zones, ensuring equal access regardless of location. Successful participants gain entry into ongoing NASENI Innovation Clubs and acceleration programs, creating pathways for sustained innovation development.
The FutureMakers launch represents Nigeria’s commitment to technological self-reliance through homegrown talent development. By starting with children as young as 5, the country positions itself to compete globally in innovation over the coming decades.
