NICE opens applications for innovation clinics across six Nigerian clusters

The Nigeria Innovation Cluster Exchange (NICE) has launched applications for Pipeline Clinics, a sector-focused program designed to assist Nigerian businesses and entrepreneurs in enhancing their operations and achieving long-term growth. These specialized clinics will focus on six priority innovation clusters in Nigeria: agro-processing in Kano, manufacturing in Abia and Ogun, health in Oyo, minerals in Akwa Ibom, and cybersecurity in Abuja.

The initiative, led by The Nest Innovation Technology Park in collaboration with the UK-Nigeria Tech Hub under the UK Government's Digital Access Programme, and in partnership with the Office for Nigerian Digital Innovation (ONDI), aims to bolster Nigerian businesses and startups by providing them with practical tools, valuable networks, and essential support. The program targets businesses operating within or supporting these six priority clusters.

NICE's initial research established the six priority clusters by mapping out innovation activities, stakeholders, and opportunities across the country. The Pipeline Clinics will offer Nigerian-owned or based businesses practical solutions to improve their competitiveness, tackle local challenges, and scale sustainable innovations.

Potential participants of the Pipeline Clinics include Nigerian-owned or based businesses, startups, prototypes, products, services, or entities with a clear business model. The program may prioritize businesses demonstrating growth potential, innovative offerings, market traction, expansion opportunities, investment readiness, job creation potential, and significant contributions to their respective innovation clusters.

NICE's efforts to unify Nigeria's innovation ecosystem aim to address fragmentation within the sector. The country boasts a growing number of startups, entrepreneurship support organizations, research institutions, and innovation hubs, but many remain independent, hindering collaboration and shared learning. The Pipeline Clinics will pave the way for collaborative innovation sprints, where participating clusters will collaborate with Nigerian and UK partners to develop and validate solutions to the identified challenges.

Oluwajoba Oloba, Co-founder of The Nest Innovation Technology Park, stated that the initiative will strengthen Nigeria's organic innovation ecosystem through knowledge sharing and institutional partnerships. The NICE framework includes Cluster Coordinators and Cluster Councils to ensure local ownership, coordination, and continuity within the innovation ecosystem.