NBTI Plans Solar Power for One Million Small Businesses

The National Board for Technology Incubation, NBTI, has unveiled a proposed solar energy programme targeting one million micro and small businesses across Nigeria as part of an investment pipeline exceeding $600 million.

The Director-General of NBTI, Dr Kazeem Raji, disclosed this while presenting the outcomes of the 2026 NextGen Innovation Challenge at a world press conference in Abuja.

According to Raji, the proposed investment pipeline includes a $500 million solar energy programme for universities and polytechnics in partnership with Gigawatt Global, as well as a $100 million financing opportunity linked to the Tinubu Light Initiative through Financial Innovation for Impact, UK, also known as Cambridge Investors.

He stressed that the $600 million represents proposed investment and financing opportunities and not money that has already been received or disbursed.

The Tinubu Light Initiative is expected to provide solar energy solutions to one million micro and small businesses, while targeting the training and deployment of 10,000 field marketers and the creation of 50,000 direct youth employment opportunities.

The first phase of the initiative is expected to attract N30 billion in blended financing, with projected annual economic benefits of about N12 billion, subject to financing arrangements and implementation outcomes.

Raji said the programme was designed to help businesses reduce their dependence on petrol and diesel generators and lower the cost of operating in an environment affected by unreliable electricity supply.

Potential beneficiaries include tailors, barbers, hairdressers, pharmacies, food vendors, retailers, printing businesses and digital-service providers.

He said the initiative could also create opportunities for business formalisation and financial inclusion among informal enterprises.

The NBTI chief said the board would prioritise transparency, reliable equipment, proper maintenance and measurable delivery as the programme progresses.

“Our vision is to make clean-energy access an enabler of enterprise development, not merely an infrastructure intervention,” Raji said.

The proposed investments followed the 2026 NextGen Innovation Challenge, which attracted 298 Nigerian innovators from all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, compared with 105 participants in 2025.

The innovators presented solutions covering artificial intelligence, robotics, agriculture, healthcare, education, renewable energy, telecommunications, digital technology, enterprise software, 3D printing and advanced manufacturing.

Raji said NBTI’s focus was shifting from merely showcasing innovations to helping developers commercialise their technologies, establish sustainable businesses and create jobs.

The board also announced a $100,000 investment commitment from Dubai-based investor Erin Grover to support three women innovators, while 16 selected innovators received international acceleration opportunities valued at about $160,000.

Raji said the next phase would be to convert the various opportunities into bankable projects, sustainable businesses and measurable economic outcomes.

He urged investors and development partners to support Nigerian innovators through funding, mentorship, manufacturing capacity, distribution networks and intellectual property support.