Nigerian Academy of Engineering Opens Application for 3rd National Innovation Competition 2026
The Nigerian Academy of Engineering (NAEng) has officially opened submissions for the third edition of its National Innovation Competition, a strategic initiative designed to identify, support, and scale engineering-driven solutions that tackle pressing challenges across Nigeria’s economic and social sectors.
The competition, a cornerstone of the Academy’s current initiatives, invites individuals and teams including engineers, scientists, technologists, technicians, craftsmen, and other professionals involved in engineering creativity to submit innovative works that demonstrate measurable impact, technical rigor, and societal relevance.
Scope and Focus
Submissions can span any engineering discipline or interdisciplinary field, with suggested areas of focus that include, but are not limited to:
- Information and communication technologies (ICT) and telecommunications
- Agriculture and food processing technologies
- Energy, renewables, and energy transition solutions
- Infrastructure development and transportation systems
- Waste management and environmental protection
- Health systems and biomedical technologies
- Artificial Intelligence (AI), robotics, and climate resilience
- Mining, mineral processing, and manufacturing innovations
This breadth reflects the Academy’s intention to cultivate solutions that address fundamental barriers to national development while fostering technical ingenuity within the engineering community.
Two-Stage Evaluation Process
To ensure thorough evaluation and to provide innovators with structured guidance, the competition is conducted in two principal stages:
Stage 1 – Concept Note Submission:
Participants are required to submit a concept note (in PDF) of no more than 20 A4 pages by Friday, December 19, 2025. This document must succinctly describe the innovation, the problem it seeks to solve, its potential impact, technical approach, development stage, relevant illustrations, and profiles of key contributors. Submissions will be assessed based on originality, engineering content, scalability, and alignment with national development needs.
Stage 2 – Full Proposal Submission:
Shortlisted innovators from Stage 1 will be invited to develop full proposals between January 15 and March 13, 2026, allowing for expanded technical detail and implementation planning. Final winners will be publicly announced in June 2026.
Eligibility and Participation
The competition is open to all engineers, scientists, technologists, technicians, craftsmen, and other professionals involved in engineering creativity, with the exception of Fellows of the Nigerian Academy of Engineering. Both individuals and teams are encouraged to apply, and submissions may be self-nominated or nominated by third parties. Collaborative projects are strongly encouraged, reflecting the Academy’s belief that collective expertise produces robust solutions. Innovations must address identifiable national problems or challenges
Rewards and Benefits
NAEng plans to recognize winning entrants with a range of incentives, including:
- Cash prizes
- Public recognition and media visibility
- Certificates and plaques
- Facilitated introductions to investors and industry partners to support commercialization and scaling
While sponsorship details and prize amounts have not yet been published for the 2026 edition, past competitions have featured substantial awards and high-profile showcases that elevated winners into commercial development pathways — underscoring the competition’s role as a bridge from concept to market impact.
Why It Matters
In a climate where Nigeria continues to confront infrastructure deficits, energy insecurity, technological gaps, and environmental challenges, engineering innovation has become a strategic priority. Through this competition, NAEng aims not only to reward ingenuity but to amplify solutions with the potential to transform industries and improve lives. By linking innovators with investors and industry stakeholders at early stages, the Academy seeks to ensure that viable technologies achieve real-world adoption.
Entries for Stage 1 must be emailed to [email protected] by Friday, December 19, 2025. For more information, please visit www.nae.ng or contact the Academy’s Secretariat.
