By Destiny Obinna
Eight Nigerian entrepreneurs supported by the National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI) have won two awards at the SEE Pakistan 2026 World Startup Championship in Lahore, showcasing Nigerian innovation on the international stage.
The Nigerian team won the *Country Award in the Growth and Innovation category, while Uthman Fatimah Zahra of Nature’s Sleek Limited, Technology Incubation Centre (TIC), Minna, won the individual award for Best Skincare and Beauty Products.
The championship attracted more than 4,000 applications from over 40 countries.
Celebrating the achievement in Abuja on Thursday, the Director-General of NBTI, Dr Kazeem Kolawole Raji, said the performance demonstrated the capacity of Nigerian entrepreneurs to compete in the global innovation economy.
“The success of our entrepreneurs in Lahore is a compelling demonstration that Nigeria possesses the talent, creativity and intellectual capacity to compete in the global innovation economy,” Raji said.
The entrepreneurs represented NBTI centres in eight locations across the country.
They were Ndotehyin Kingsley Ekanem of Latent Simulation Works Limited, TIC Uyo; Alawode Olukemi Folasade of Green Oasis Foods, TIC Ile-Ife; Saidat Omowumi Dauda of Abisal Megatop Limited, TIC Ibadan; Uthman Fatimah Zahra of Nature’s Sleek Limited, TIC Minna; Asma Begum Mirza of Muhammad and Roshaneh Farms Ltd, TIC Kaduna; Olabode Owoeye of Porter & Briggs Ltd, TIC Lagos; Umar Rabiu Oyakhilome of Green-Tech Visionary Enterprise Limited, TIC Bauchi; and Bernard Emeka Eme of Benemes Nigeria Limited, TIC Port Harcourt.
In a message to Raji and the NBTI management, the entrepreneurs said the agency’s Technology Incubation Programme had played an important role in preparing them for the international competition.
They cited training in ISO 9001:2024, project management, export preparedness and corporate marketing as some of the areas that strengthened their readiness for the global contest.
“The Nigerian booths were buzzing with activities, this is where the SEE PAKISTAN turned up to see Nigeria,” they said.
The entrepreneurs appealed to the Federal Government for financial support to enable them commercialise their products internationally.
They also called for presidential recognition of their achievement and assistance from state governments through access to facilities and infrastructure to enable them expand their businesses and create more jobs.
The team further requested N6.83 million in logistics support per participant to cover additional expenses arising from extended accommodation, local transportation, feeding and flight-related logistics.
The innovations showcased by the Nigerian entrepreneurs included medical oxygen generation, food and skincare products, kilishi and damban nama, software solutions, farm management systems and direct carbon-capture technology.
“On behalf of Team Nigeria, we the eight entrepreneurs really appreciate this opportunity and promise to even do more to change the narrative of our nation Nigeria,” the entrepreneurs said.
The championship was organised by OIC-COMSTECH in collaboration with the Association of Private Sector Universities Pakistan (APSUP).
According to NBTI, the achievement reflects the sustained mentoring, training and support provided to entrepreneurs through its Technology Incubation Centres across the country.
