Next↗Gen
Innovation Challenge
Discovering ideas. Developing innovators. Connecting innovation to investment. Building global businesses.
“Great ideas can come from anywhere — but they need the right opportunity, investment and partnerships to go everywhere.”
One platform.
The entire ecosystem.
NextGen is not simply another innovation competition. It brings together every part of the ecosystem that an innovator needs to go from idea to global business.
From Nigeria
to the World
Proof of Concept
105 innovators reached the London Grand Finale. Nigerian innovations became global brands.
National Scale
2,900+ applications received from across every state in Nigeria.
Abuja Showcase
Selected innovators present nationally at the Nicon Luxury Hotel, Abuja.
London Finale
ExCeL London. Investors. Universities. Corporates. International markets.
Global Scale
Investment. Partnerships. Markets. Nigerian innovations competing globally.
What we're
looking for
NextGen supports innovations capable of solving real problems, creating economic value and achieving commercial scale across every sector.
Artificial Intelligence & Digital Technology
HealthTech & MedTech
AgriTech & Food Innovation
Clean Energy & Climate Technology
FinTech & Financial Services
Advanced Manufacturing & Engineering
Mobility & Infrastructure
Education Technology
Software & Digital Platforms
Robotics & Emerging Technologies
NextGen 2025
The Inaugural Edition
105 innovators. One London stage. The proof that Nigerian innovation belongs on the world stage — and that it can become global brands.
From Prototype to Global Brand
Innovations that entered as ideas left as recognised global brands — competing and trading internationally.
Investment Secured
Winning innovations attracted major investment commitments from the international audience at ExCeL London.
International Partnerships
Relationships forged at London continued to develop, with innovators pursuing opportunities across Europe.
Journey, Not Just Competition
NextGen created a pathway beyond the event itself — relationships, markets and commercial pathways that continued long after London.
2026 is bigger, bolder and more global.
NextGen 2026
National Scale
Applications Received
From innovators across every region of Nigeria — the largest national innovation pipeline yet created.
Stage
Rigorous Selection Process
Independent judges led by Professor Hari Mohan of London South Bank University assessed innovations for commercial viability, scalability, impact and global potential.
2026
National Showcase — Abuja
Selected innovators presented their technologies at Nicon Luxury Hotel, Abuja — the gateway to London.
2026
International Grand Finale — London
The global marketplace. Investors, universities, corporates and international partners. ExCeL London. 9 October 2026.
Abuja 2026
Abuja was not the destination. It was the beginning of the international journey. London is the global marketplace.
London.
9 October 2026.
What to expect
in London
The Grand Finale is an active innovation marketplace — not simply a conference. An innovator may arrive with a prototype and leave with an investor conversation, a partnership, or a path into international markets.
Innovation Exhibition
Meet innovators directly and experience their technologies firsthand.
Live Project Presentations
Selected innovators present high-potential opportunities to the international audience.
Investor Engagement
Direct interaction between innovators, investors and financial institutions.
Business & Investment Discussions
Conversations around commercialisation, capital, manufacturing and international expansion.
University & Research Partnerships
Connecting innovation with research, technology transfer and academic expertise.
Accelerator Opportunities
Pathways for selected founders into international accelerator and commercialisation programmes.
Panel Discussions
Short, focused conversations addressing investment, commercialisation and the future of innovation.
International Partner Showcase
Governments, development organisations, universities and international institutions present opportunities.
Awards & Recognition
Celebrating outstanding innovation, commercial potential and national impact.
Nigerian Food & Culture
Presenting another dimension of Nigeria's creativity, enterprise and rich culture.
This is a marketplace for opportunity.
Everyone in the
innovation ecosystem
Your idea deserves
a global stage
NextGen provides the opportunity to move beyond simply presenting an idea — towards investment, partnerships and international markets.
Meet investable
Nigerian innovation
Discover a curated pipeline of founders and technologies selected for commercial potential, scalability, impact and international growth.
Turn research into
commercial impact
Build relationships around research, technology transfer, talent, validation and routes from academia into industry.
Find technology,
partners and markets
Engage innovators developing solutions relevant to industry, supply chains, manufacturing, services and future growth.
Connect expertise
back to opportunity
NextGen gives the Nigerian diaspora a practical route to contribute knowledge, networks, capital and global market access.
From Nigeria to
the Commonwealth
The success of the NextGen model is creating the foundation for a broader innovation platform connecting innovators across the entire Commonwealth. Nigeria is not simply participating in the global innovation conversation — Nigeria is helping to create a platform for it.
Nigeria leads
National innovation platform
Africa connects
Cross-border innovation
Commonwealth scales
56 nations, global reach
Nigeria does not lack ideas.
Nigeria does not lack talent.
Nigeria does not lack entrepreneurs.
The challenge is building stronger bridges.
Innovation to Capital
Connecting promising innovations with the investment and financing required to scale.
Research to Industry
Bridging the gap between academic research and commercial application.
Nigeria to the World
Creating international pathways for Nigerian innovations to reach global markets.
Ideas to Industries
When the right innovation meets the right partner, an idea can become an industry.
Programme Owner
International Strategic Partner
Nigerian High Commission, London