Key NBBTF Discussion Points during the Working Visit to the Director General, National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI) -Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology Abuja, Nigeria, Dr. Kaseem Kolawole Raji towards the 2025 Nigeria–Bangladesh Entrepreneurship and Innovation Boot Camp & Associated Activities at the Director General’s Conference Room, Federal Secretariat, Abuja. July 10, 2025.
The Director General, Esteemed Leadership of the NBTI, Colleagues, Ladies and Gentlemen.
I am honoured once again, to meet with you today to explore technical and institutional pathways through which your esteemed agency can assume a catalytic role in the 2025 Nigeria–Bangladesh Youth Innovation Boot Camp, now fully endorsed by the Honourable Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, with your kind buy-in.
Our visit is about deepening technical collaboration, scaling Nigeria’s innovation diplomacy, and unlocking the full potential of our youth incubation systems through South–South cooperation. Bangladesh is globally recognized for low-cost innovation, youth enterprise systems, and export-ready green and smart technologies. At NBBTF, we advocate Nigeria’s strong engagement as a peer, not a follower.
As espoused during our meeting with the Hon. Minister, this Boot Camp will specifically:
- Provide a global showcase for your agency and Nigeria’s nurtured startups.
- Enable policy benchmarking through MoUs and structured dialogues with innovation powerhouses like Grameen and a2i.
- Position your agency to contribute actively to frontier areas -from climate-smart incubation to diaspora-linked technology transfer.
We therefore seek your support in:
- Sponsoring youth innovators already emerging from your hubs or collaborations.
- Nominating NBTI officials along with yourself for the Bangladesh delegation.
- Delivering a masterclass or speaking session to position your agency’s work.
- Signing a working MoU with NBBTF and Bangladesh partners for medium-long-term bilateral pipeline programmes.
With your ongoing and planned interventions since assuming office, we want to work with you to signal to the world that Nigerian institutions are bold, open to partnerships, and committed to powering a new generation of innovators that are not just trained, but also mentored for progressive productivity.
FOLLOW ON: The Director General/CEO has since approved and signed a strategic 5-YEAR collaboration MOU with the NBBTF on the Youth Entrepreneurship and Innovation Boot Camp.
