Israel supports Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem, young entrepreneurs
By Uji A Iliyasu, Abuja
The Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria, Michael Freeman, has reaffirmed Israel’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem, announcing funding for the fifth edition of the Innovation Fellowship for Aspiring Inventors and Researchers (iFAIR), a flagship programme designed to nurture young innovators and entrepreneurs.
Speaking at the closing ceremony and Innovation Showcase of iFAIR Cohort 4 in Abuja, Ambassador Freeman described the initiative as a testament to the growing innovation partnership between Nigeria and Israel.
He announced that the next cohort of the fellowship would commence in October 2026 following the successful completion of the current programme.
“Today is a celebration of what is possible when Israel and Nigeria believe in each other.
I am proud to announce that, together with our partners, we have secured funding for iFAIR 5, which will be launched in October 2026,” Freeman said.
The ambassador urged Nigerian entrepreneurs to remain focused on transforming ideas into viable businesses, stressing that innovation goes beyond technology.
“Innovation is not simply about technology. It is about learning to see opportunities where others see obstacles. It is about asking ‘why not?’ instead of ‘why?’. It is about resilience, creativity, partnership and determination to build something better,” he said.
Freeman explained that the fellowship was deliberately designed to enable Nigerian innovators to develop homegrown solutions to local challenges, supported by Israeli expertise and mentorship rather than imported ideas.
“This programme has never been about bringing Israeli solutions to Nigeria. It has always been about helping brilliant Nigerian innovators develop Nigerian solutions to Nigerian challenges, supported by Israeli experience, mentorship and innovation,” he said.
Reflecting on his diplomatic engagement in Nigeria, Freeman noted that both countries had expanded cooperation in technology, education, healthcare and water management. He also commended the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) and Innov8 Hub for sustaining the initiative.
Addressing the graduating participants, he encouraged them to continue pursuing innovation beyond the fellowship.
“The certificate you receive today is not your greatest achievement. Your greatest achievement is having the courage to take an idea and turn it into something real. Nigeria needs innovators like you. Africa needs innovators like you. The world needs innovators like you,” he said.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Sonny Echono, said the iFAIR initiative is helping bridge the long-standing gap between academic research and industry by promoting the commercialization of innovations emerging from Nigerian universities.
“The main problem we are solving is how to commercialize university research results and inventions by bridging the gap between academia, government and the productive industrial sector,” Echono said.
He disclosed that TETFund is establishing innovation centres in more than 60 tertiary institutions across the country to enable students and researchers develop commercially viable products from their ideas.
“As I speak, TETFund is providing facilities and establishing innovation centres across over 60 tertiary institutions so that students, while still in school, can develop solutions to national and global challenges,” he added.
The Head of Programmes and Ventures at Innov8 Hub, Tolulope Aina, said Nigeria possesses abundant innovative talent but requires stronger support systems capable of transforming ideas into industries.
“Every nation has ideas, but only a few succeed in transforming them into industries and lasting prosperity. The difference lies in the strength of the ecosystem that converts innovation into real-world impact,” Aina said.
He revealed that Innov8 Hub has supported more than 3,000 researchers, innovators and entrepreneurs, while over 120 professionals now work within the organisation to strengthen Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem.
The Chief Executive Officer of Engineers Without Borders Israel, Michal Dolav Hashimshony, praised the ingenuity of the graduating entrepreneurs, describing Innov8 Hub as an ecosystem with the potential to drive meaningful technological transformation across Africa.
“You are inspiring. You make us optimistic because we believe technology must always be human-centred. Engineering has the power to change lives and create real impact,” she said.
Hashimshony also applauded the growing contributions of women to Nigeria’s innovation landscape, describing the female innovators and leaders she met during her visit as exceptionally talented and a source of hope for the future.
The iFAIR programme is a partnership between the Embassy of Israel in Nigeria, TETFund and Innov8 Hub. It provides mentorship, technical support, venture development and access to investment opportunities to help researchers and entrepreneurs transform innovative ideas into sustainable businesses.
Structured as a nine-month innovation and venture development programme, iFAIR supports early-stage startups by helping founders convert ideas into tested prototypes, refine existing products through technical development and fabrication, validate solutions, and build commercially viable enterprises.