Tinubu Light Initiative To Power 1m MSMEs, Create 50,000 Jobs

The National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI) has unveiled the Tinubu Light Initiative (TLI), an ambitious renewable energy programme aimed at delivering affordable clean power to one million micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) nationwide, in a move expected to stimulate industrial growth, create over 50,000 jobs and deepen Nigeria’s innovation-driven economy.

The initiative was launched alongside the National Showcase of the NextGen Innovation Challenge 2026 in Abuja.

Speaking at the event, the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of NBTI, Dr. Kazeem Kolawole Raji, described the twin programmes as a major milestone in the country’s drive to become a globally competitive innovation hub.

He said the initiatives align with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the Nigeria First Policy, which prioritise innovation, technology commercialisation, enterprise development and local industrialisation.

“The NextGen Innovation Challenge and the Tinubu Light Initiative are practical expressions of Mr President’s vision for a Nigeria that rewards innovation, empowers enterprise, creates wealth and competes confidently on the global stage,” Raji said.

According to him, the Tinubu Light Initiative will deploy innovative financing models, strategic partnerships and renewable energy technologies to reduce electricity costs for small businesses, improve productivity and enhance their competitiveness.

He said the programme is projected to generate more than 50,000 direct jobs, promote local assembly of renewable energy equipment, cut carbon emissions and expand economic opportunities, particularly for women- and youth-owned enterprises.

“The Tinubu Light Initiative goes beyond electrification. It is an industrial policy, an employment strategy, a poverty reduction programme and a platform for inclusive economic growth,” he said.

Raji also disclosed that the 2026 edition of the NextGen Innovation Challenge attracted thousands of entries from innovators in renewable energy, agriculture, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, healthcare, manufacturing, financial technology and climate technology.

He noted that the strong participation reflects Nigeria’s vast innovation potential and underscores the need to strengthen platforms that can transform indigenous ideas into commercially successful products and enterprises.

The NBTI chief commended the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, UKALD, the British High Commission, the Commonwealth Secretariat and other development partners for supporting Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem.

According to him, the partnerships are helping to connect Nigerian innovators with international investors, research institutions, technology firms and global markets.

He urged investors, development partners and innovators to work together to accelerate the commercialisation of research, saying innovation remains critical to achieving sustainable economic growth and industrial transformation.

“The NextGen Innovation Challenge and the Tinubu Light Initiative are far more than programmes; they are a national movement to unlock talent, empower enterprise, create wealth and industrialise Nigeria,” Raji said.