Nigeria has approved the creation of the National Research and Innovation Development Fund (NRIDF), a new initiative aimed at strengthening research, science, and technology. Annual funding for the program could reach $500 million, according to a presidency statement released on May 9.
The fund is designed to improve coordination between universities, research institutes, industry, and government, supporting national development priorities. It will finance competitive research grants, innovation infrastructure, commercialization of scientific discoveries, and skills development in strategic scientific and technological fields. Oversight will be provided by the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, with a 17‑member National Research and Innovation Council chaired by the vice president.
The reform comes at a time when Nigeria’s research sector remains underfunded. A 2025 study by the Science Granting Councils Initiative (SGCI) found that Nigeria allocates just 0.13% of GDP to research and development, far below the African Union’s 1% target. Private sector investment is also minimal, accounting for only 1% of research funding, leaving the system heavily reliant on public resources.
To address these challenges, the SGCI recommended greater investment in energy and digital technology, the creation of dedicated funding mechanisms, reforms to intellectual property frameworks, and stronger public‑private partnerships. In parallel, the Nigerian government has launched innovation hubs known as “UniPods” at public universities, including the Mine‑Tech UniPod in Nasarawa state, to better align academic research with industry needs in sectors such as mining and technology.
