The State of Israel and Nigeria have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation in innovation, research and entrepreneurship, with renewed assurances that strategic investments in homegrown solutions will drive job creation, economic diversification and sustainable development.
The commitment was made at the graduation and closing ceremony of the fourth cohort of the Israel–Nigeria i-FAIR (Israel Forum for Academic Innovation and Research) programme held at Innov8 Hub, Abuja, where government officials, development partners, investors and innovators celebrated another set of Nigerian entrepreneurs equipped to transform research into commercially viable businesses.
Speaking at what was also his final major public engagement before concluding his diplomatic assignment, the Ambassador of the State of Israel to Nigeria, Michael Freeman, described the programme as a symbol of what both countries could achieve through genuine collaboration rather than aid.
According to him, i-FAIR was designed to empower Nigerian innovators to develop local solutions to local challenges using Israeli experience, mentorship and innovation.
“Innovation is not simply about technology. It is about people with the courage to see opportunities where others see obstacles. It is about asking ‘why not’ instead of ‘why’,” Ambassador Freeman said.
He stressed that the initiative had successfully brought together academia, government, investors, engineers and entrepreneurs to transform ideas into businesses capable of creating jobs and stimulating economic growth.
“This programme has never been about bringing Israeli solutions to Nigeria. It has been about helping brilliant Nigerian innovators develop Nigerian solutions to Nigerian challenges, supported by Israeli experience, mentorship and innovation,” he stated.
In what was one of the major announcements of the ceremony, Freeman disclosed that funding had been secured for the next phase of the initiative.
“I am so proud to stand here today and announce that we have secured, with our partners, funding for i-FAIR 5, and i-FAIR 5 will be launching in October 2026.”
The ambassador noted that over the last four and a half years, Israel and Nigeria had expanded cooperation in agriculture, healthcare, water management, education, technology and entrepreneurship, resulting in stronger business partnerships and increased opportunities for innovators in both countries.
He paid glowing tribute to the Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Arc. Sunday Echono, describing him as a critical driver of the programme’s success.
“From our very first conversations, you recognised the potential of this partnership, and your confidence and support have been instrumental in making i-FAIR the success it has become,” Freeman said.
He also acknowledged Innov8 Hub for serving as one of the embassy’s closest innovation partners, while welcoming Engineers Without Borders Israel, expressing optimism that the collaboration would introduce practical engineering solutions to Nigeria.
Addressing the graduating innovators, Freeman urged them to see the certificates they received not as the destination but as the beginning of a bigger journey.
“Nigeria needs innovators like you. Africa needs innovators like you. The world needs innovators like you,” he charged.
He added that Israel’s strengths in technology, cybersecurity, agriculture and water management, when combined with Nigeria’s youthful population and entrepreneurial spirit, could unlock transformative solutions across Africa.
As he bade farewell to Nigeria, the ambassador expressed gratitude for the relationships built during his tenure.
“Although I am returning to Jerusalem, I will leave a large part of my heart here in Nigeria. The best chapters of the relationship between Israel and Nigeria are still ahead of us.”»
Earlier, the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Arc. Sunday Echono, reaffirmed the Fund’s commitment to supporting research commercialisation, innovation and entrepreneurship, describing innovation as one of Nigeria’s strongest pathways to economic transformation.
He said innovation would stimulate economic diversification, attract foreign investments, reduce youth unemployment and discourage the growing trend of brain drain.
“It is a source of job creation. It is a source of economic diversification. It will bring in foreign investment. It will allow young people to see their future within Nigeria and help stop the brain drain,” Echono stated.
He explained that i-FAIR aligns with TETFund’s broader strategy of institutionalising research and development through initiatives such as the Research for Impact programme, the TETFund Alliance for Innovative Research and various entrepreneurship support schemes.
According to him, the programme has become an important platform for connecting researchers, innovators, entrepreneurs, investors and industry players to ensure that academic research translates into products and services with socio-economic value.
“The i-FAIR programme has become a veritable platform for grooming generations of researchers, innovators and inventors while facilitating the critical synergy between government, academia and industry.”
Echono assured stakeholders that TETFund would continue supporting the initiative, noting that research outcomes must move beyond laboratories into commercial production capable of addressing Nigeria’s development challenges.
He further disclosed that TETFund would later this year host a National Research Fair where Nigerian innovators would showcase inventions before policymakers, investors, financial institutions and development partners.
“We are inviting the banks, development finance institutions and investors to interact with innovators and identify solutions that can be commercialised for national development.”
The TETFund Executive Secretary also announced several new interventions aimed at nurturing innovation across Nigerian tertiary institutions.
These include the establishment of innovation hubs across the country, expansion of the Learn-to-Earn digital skills programme to campuses nationwide, and a Student Innovation Fund that will provide up to ₦50 million to students with commercially viable ideas.
“We have established a student innovation fund where Nigerian students with brilliant ideas will receive as much as ₦50 million each to translate those ideas into solutions that benefit the country.”
Paying tribute to Ambassador Freeman, Echono described him as a true friend of Nigeria whose dedication had strengthened bilateral relations.
“Nigeria is grateful for your service. You have been a strong bridge between our two countries, and Nigeria will never forget your commitment.”
He urged young innovators to ignore distractions and remain focused on developing ideas capable of changing Nigeria’s development trajectory.
“We want to showcase what Nigerian talent can do. The time has come for us to harness the creativity of our young people to change the narrative of our country.”
Speaking on behalf of Innov8 Hub, Head of Programmes, Tolulope Aina, said innovation ecosystems only thrive when ideas are deliberately nurtured into sustainable businesses through mentorship, collaboration and access to markets.
She noted that i-FAIR had continued to provide that bridge by connecting innovators with technical experts, investors and global partners capable of helping them scale their solutions, noting that Innov8 Hub had supported more than 3,000 innovators, researchers and entrepreneurs, helping them convert research into products, startups and investment-ready ventures.
The fourth cohort of the Israel–Nigeria i-FAIR programme featured innovation showcases by participating entrepreneurs, networking sessions and the presentation of certificates to graduating innovators whose solutions addressed challenges in agriculture, food security, healthcare, clean energy, technology and other critical sectors.
“Nigeria does not suffer from a shortage of brilliant minds, what we need are stronger pathways that help those ideas become products, businesses, and opportunities that improve life,” she stressed.
