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The State of Israel and Nigeria reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation in innovation, research and entrepreneurship, with renewed assurances that strategic investments in domestic solutions will spur job creation, economic diversification and sustainable development.
The commitment was made during the graduation and closing ceremony of the fourth cohort of the Israel-Nigeria i-FAIR (Israeli Forum for Innovation and Academic Research) program held at Innov8 Hub, Abuja, where government officials, development partners, investors and innovators celebrated another cohort of Nigerian entrepreneurs equipped to transform research into commercially viable businesses.
Speaking at what was also his last major public engagement before concluding his diplomatic assignment, the Ambassador of the State of Israel to Nigeria, Michael Freeman, described the program as a symbol of what both countries could achieve through true collaboration rather than aid.
According to him, i-FAIR was designed to enable Nigerian innovators to develop local solutions to local challenges using Israeli expertise, mentorship and innovation.
“Innovation is not simply about technology. It’s about people having the courage to see opportunities where others see obstacles. It’s about asking ‘why not’ instead of ‘why,'” said Ambassador Freeman.
He highlighted that the initiative has successfully brought together academia, government, investors, engineers and entrepreneurs to turn ideas into businesses that create jobs and stimulate economic growth.
“This program was never about bringing Israeli solutions to Nigeria. It was about helping brilliant Nigerian innovators develop Nigerian solutions to Nigerian challenges, supported by Israeli experience, mentorship and innovation,” he said.
In what was one of the most important announcements of the ceremony, Freeman revealed 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 that i-FAIR 5 will launch in October 2026.”
The ambassador noted that over the past four and a half years, Israel and Nigeria have expanded cooperation in the fields of agriculture, healthcare, water management, education, technology and entrepreneurship, resulting in stronger business partnerships and greater opportunities for innovators in both countries.
He paid warm tribute to the Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Arc. Sunday Echono, describing it as a crucial factor in the programme’s success.
“From our first conversations, you recognized the potential of this partnership, and your trust and support have been instrumental in making i-FAIR the success it has become,” said Freeman.
He also recognized Innov8 Hub for being 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 receive not as the destination but as the beginning of a greater 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 young population and entrepreneurial spirit, could unlock transformative solutions across Africa.
Greeting Nigeria, the ambassador expressed gratitude for the relationships built during his tenure.
“Even though I return to Jerusalem, I will leave much of my heart here in Nigeria. The best chapters of the relationship between Israel and Nigeria are still ahead of us.”»
Previously, TETFund Executive Secretary Arc. Sunday Echono, reaffirmed the Fund’s commitment to supporting research commercialization, innovation and entrepreneurship, describing innovation as one of Nigeria’s strongest pathways to economic transformation.
He said innovation would stimulate economic diversification, attract foreign investment, 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 foreign investment. It will allow young people to see their future in Nigeria and help stop the brain drain,” Echono said.
He explained that i-FAIR aligns with TETFund’s broader strategy of institutionalizing research and development through initiatives such as the Research for Impact programme, the TETFund Alliance for Innovative Research and various entrepreneurship support programmes.
According to him, the program has become an important platform to connect researchers, innovators, entrepreneurs, investors and industry players to ensure that academic research translates into products and services with socioeconomic value.
“The i-FAIR program has become a true platform for training generations of researchers, innovators and inventors, while facilitating critical synergy between government, academia and industry.”
Echono assured stakeholders that TETFund will continue to support the initiative, stressing that research findings must move beyond laboratories to commercial production capable of addressing Nigeria’s development challenges.
He further revealed that TETFund will host a national research fair later this year where Nigerian innovators will showcase their inventions before politicians, investors, financial institutions and development partners.
“We invite banks, development finance institutions and investors to engage with innovators and identify solutions that can be commercialized for national development.”
The TETFund Executive Secretary also announced several new interventions aimed at promoting innovation in Nigerian tertiary institutions.
These include the creation of innovation hubs across the country, the expansion of the Learn-to-Earn digital skills program 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 up to ₦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 has 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 that can change 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 youth to change the narrative of our country.”
Speaking on behalf of Innov8 Hub, Head of Programs, Tolulope Aina, said innovation ecosystems only thrive when ideas are deliberately cultivated into sustainable businesses through mentorship, collaboration and access to markets.
He noted that i-FAIR has continued to provide that bridge by connecting innovators with technical experts, investors and global partners who can help them scale up their solutions, noting that Innov8 Hub has supported more than 3,000 innovators, researchers and entrepreneurs, helping them convert research into investment-ready products, startups and ventures.
The fourth cohort of the Israel-Nigeria i-FAIR program featured innovation showcases by participating entrepreneurs, networking sessions, and the presentation of certificates to graduate 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 life-enhancing products, businesses and opportunities,” he stressed.
