Nigeria’s agricultural innovation and mechanisation landscape has received a significant boost following the successful completion of the three-year Research and Innovation for Systems Advancement (RISA) project, which focused on strengthening collaboration, technology development and commercialization across the sector.
The milestone was highlighted at the RISA close-out event themed “Strengthening Systems, Showcasing Impact & Building Sustainable Partnerships,” where stakeholders reviewed gains made in building a more connected and demand-driven agricultural innovation ecosystem.
Speaking at the event, the National Technical Advisor on the RISA Knowledge and Commercialisation Cohort (RISA-KCC) in Nigeria, Mr Samuel Abass, said the project facilitated the launch of a digital e-commerce platform in partnership with the National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI) to support the commercialization of agricultural innovations.
According to him, the platform leverages NBTI’s nationwide network of technology incubation centres and nearly 2,000 innovators across 14 states, enabling researchers and entrepreneurs to showcase products, attract partnerships and scale solutions.
Abass disclosed that at least 35 innovations were supported under the project, ranging from incremental improvements to entirely new technologies, all developed through participatory processes involving end-users, regulators and researchers.
He added that RISA helped dismantle silos within the innovation ecosystem by connecting institutions, innovators and policymakers, while institutionalising a demand-driven Technology Development Partnership Support (TDSP) model across research institutions.
A major outcome of the project was the establishment of the Connection of Stakeholders in Agricultural Mechanisation (CONESAM), which has hosted three national innovation summits and strengthened collaboration among researchers, innovators and state governments.
The project also introduced the Digital Manufacturing Makerspace (DMM), a STEM-focused hub for additive and subtractive manufacturing, alongside platforms such as Art2Connect and the Agricultural Technology Exchange (ActiVEX) to improve research coordination and youth-led innovation.
Stakeholders from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and academia noted that RISA has strengthened Nigeria’s research capacity, created pathways for job creation and entrepreneurship, and aligned with the Federal Government’s vision of a knowledge-driven economy, positioning the agricultural innovation ecosystem for sustained growth beyond the project’s lifespan.
The event was funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and RISA Fund Nigeria.