The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure has officially unveiled FutureMakers, a new national program dedicated to grooming young innovators aged 5 to 16 years old and strategically positioning Nigeria for long-term technological advancement.
The initiative was formally launched on Thursday at the agency’s headquarters located in Abuja. Speaking during the event, the Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of NASENI, Khalil Suleiman Halilu, characterized FutureMakers as a critical strategic investment in the nation’s upcoming generation of scientists, engineers, and creative thinkers.
Halilu explained that the program is designed to inspire children to develop innovative solutions to societal challenges by actively cultivating creativity, critical thinking skills, and early exposure to the fields of science and technology.
He emphasized the vision behind targeting such a young demographic. “Today, we take another step toward securing Nigeria’s long-term innovation future. FutureMakers is designed to identify, nurture and empower young innovators between the ages of 5 and 16 years. Early exposure creates lifelong innovators, and Nigeria is joining that league through this programme,” he said.
He further clarified that this initiative aligns with NASENI’s extensive, long-term strategy to instill technical confidence at an early age, prepare young individuals for rewarding careers in STEM, entrepreneurship, and leadership, and ultimately strengthen the national innovation ecosystem from its foundations.
Halilu reiterated the generational scope of the program’s impact, adding: “This is our way of securing Nigeria’s innovation stability over the next 30 to 50 years.” He subsequently called on parents, teachers, partners, and the private sector to actively support these young talents by encouraging creativity, sponsoring competitions, and providing funding for prototype development.
Anas Balarabe Yazid, the Special Adviser to the EVC on Commercialisation and Efficiency, highlighted that the program transcends basic technical education like robotics and coding. He described FutureMakers as fundamentally a platform that nurtures self-belief in children even before their potential is recognized by the wider world.
He elaborated on the profound, lasting impact the program is intended to have on the participants. “It is about investing in their talent before their CV exists and creating an experience that stays with them for life, the moment they realise they can build things, solve real problems and be makers of the future,” he said.
In a formal presentation, Mrs. Rachael Oluwabusola Perez-Folayan, the Head of the NASENI Innovation Hub, announced the participation details for the first stage. She confirmed that 60 children will be selected to participate in the first cycle of the program, which is scheduled to run from December 2025 to February 2026. Participants will be selected equitably from all six geopolitical zones across the country.
She also outlined the significant rewards for top performers, stating that top winners from each zone will receive prizes worth up to N5 million, including a scholarship and an exclusive study tour abroad with the NASENI EVC.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on NASENI, Senator Francis Ezenwa Onyewuchi, offered praise for the agency’s initiative and commended the mentors, teachers, and parents who are supporting this national effort.
Senator Onyewuchi emphasized the collective commitment required to make the program a success. “As we launch FutureMakers, let us renew our collective commitment to building a nation where creativity is elevated, ideas are supported, and every child’s potential is allowed to thrive. What we are doing today will inspire a new generation,” he said.
The launch event was attended by students from Aflon Digital Academy in Kuje and Government Secondary School in Idu-Karmo, Abuja, marking the first public unveiling of the program designed to shape Nigeria’s innovation future.
