Israel Strengthens Ties With Nigeria To Boost Innovation Ecosystem.
By Ferdinand Olise
The Embassy of Israel in Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthen Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem.
Speaking in Abuja at the closing ceremony and innovation showcase of the Fourth Cohort of the
Innovation Fellowship for Aspiring Inventors and Researchers, iFAIR, programme, the Ambassador of Israel to Nigeria, Michael Freeman, announced funding for the fifth edition of the iFAIR to further enhance Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem.
Ambassador Freeman said the fellowship reflects the growing innovation partnership between Nigeria and Israel, and has continued to empower young Nigerian innovators to transform ideas into viable businesses.
“Today is a celebration of what is possible when Israel and Nigeria believe in each other. I am so proud to stand here today and announce that we have secured with our partners funding for iFAIR 5, and the fellowship will be launching in October.
“This programme has never been about bringing Israeli solutions to Nigeria. It’s been about helping brilliant Nigerian innovators develop Nigerian solutions to Nigerian challenges, supported by Israeli experience, mentorship and innovation”, he said.
‎He highlighted that innovation is driven not only by technology, but also by resilience, creativity and the ability to identify opportunities where others see obstacles.
‎‎Ambassador Freeman underscored the growing cooperation between Nigeria and Israel in technology, education, healthcare and water management, and commended the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) and Innov8 Hub for sustaining the initiative.
He therefore urged the iFAIR Cohort 4 participants not to see the certificates they received as their greatest achievement, rather their greatest achievement is having the courage to take an idea and turn it into something real.
“Nigeria, Africa and the world need innovators like you”, Ambassador Freeman said.
Meanwhile, the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Mr. Sonny Echono, said the iFAIR initiative is bridging the gap between the academia, government and the industrial sector, noting that the TETFund is also establishing innovation centres in more than sixty tertiary institutions across the country to enable students and researchers transform ideas into commercially viable products.
‎‎Alao, the Head of Programmes and Ventures at Innov8 Hub, Tolulope Aina, said Innov8 Hub has supported over 3,000 researchers, innovators and entrepreneurs, noting that more than 120 professionals are currently working within the organisation to strengthen Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem.
Aina highlighted the important need of transforming youthful innovative ideas into real impactful businesses.
‎‎In her remarks, the Chief Executive Officer of Engineers Without Borders Israel, Michal Hashimshony, expressed gratitude for seeing a good number of females entrepreneurs participate in the programme, noting that the female innovators are making good use of the opportunities by bringing their talents to bear.
