By Comrade Najeeb Nasir Ibrahim
Kano State is set to take centre stage in Nigeria’s innovation and industrialisation agenda as it prepares to host the National Launch and North-West Zonal Deployment of the “Energise Commercialisation Now (ECoN)” initiative, a flagship programme of the Federal Government.
The announcement was made during a press conference by the Kano State Government, highlighting the significance of the event in repositioning the state and the wider North-West region as a hub for innovation-driven economic transformation.
The ECoN initiative, spearheaded by the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology (FMIST), is designed to bridge the gap between research and industry by mobilising innovation, attracting investments, and accelerating the commercialisation of viable ideas across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
Kano State has been selected to host the national launch and regional rollout of the programme, an honour that underscores its strategic importance as the commercial nerve centre of the North-West. The event will be officially launched by the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, who will serve as the Special Guest of Honour.
According to the state government, the three-day event is scheduled to hold from April 23 to 25, 2026, and will feature a blend of high-level engagements, innovation showcases, and investment-driven activities.
The opening day will focus on political leadership and national mobilisation, featuring keynote addresses, panel discussions, and a symbolic launch of the initiative. The second day will shift attention to innovation discovery, with exhibitions, pitch sessions, and technical evaluations aimed at identifying commercially viable ideas. The final day will centre on investment and commercialisation, with structured deal rooms designed to connect innovators with investors, culminating in the signing of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs).
The event is expected to attract a wide range of stakeholders, including federal and state government officials, governors and First Ladies from the North-West, academia, innovators, private sector players, development finance institutions, and international partners.
Speaking on the strategic importance of the initiative, the government noted that despite the North-West’s rich endowment in agriculture, textiles, and solid minerals, many innovations from academic and research institutions remain untapped. The ECoN programme is expected to provide a structured pathway for identifying, supporting, and commercialising such innovations.
For Kano State, the initiative aligns closely with the policy direction of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s administration, which prioritises job creation, wealth generation, and export-led industrialisation. By connecting innovators with investors and providing access to finance, certification, and global trade platforms, ECoN is poised to unlock new economic opportunities across the region.
As host, Kano State has constituted a Local Organising Committee chaired by the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Umar Farouk Ibrahim. The committee has already secured venues, mobilised stakeholders, and coordinated with other North-West states—including Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, Jigawa, and Zamfara—to ensure full participation and representation of innovations from across the region.
Key expected outcomes of the event include the creation of a National Innovation Asset Register, the development of investment-ready innovation pipelines, the signing of strategic partnerships, and the strengthening of industry-academia collaboration.
The Kano State Government expressed confidence that the successful hosting of the ECoN launch will mark a turning point in Nigeria’s journey toward a production-driven and export-oriented economy.
It also called on the media to play a vital role in amplifying the significance of the initiative and ensuring that its impact is widely felt.
With preparations in top gear, all eyes are now on Kano as it positions itself to lead the North-West—and indeed Nigeria—into a new era of innovation, industrial growth, and economic prosperity.