ABUJA — The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) has awarded more than N400 million to Nigerian innovators at a ceremony held at the State House Banquet Hall, Abuja. The prizes were presented under three programmes: InnovateNaija, FutureMakers and the NASENI Innovation Assessment and Awards Competition. NASENI's Executive Vice Chairman, Khalil Halilu, said Nigeria does not lack ideas, but innovators often lack a clear path to funding and commercialisation. InnovateNaija attracted 1,238 applications, of which 133 advanced to a public vote. Thirty-six state champions each received N2.5 million, and the governors of Abia, Anambra, Enugu, Kaduna and Plateau matched the grant, bringing their champions' awards to N5 million. After a second round of voting, 15 finalists emerged. The top prize of N100 million went to Adaeze Ruth Akpagbula from Abia State for her Smart Poultry Climate Control System. Oluwatoyin Ogundeji from Ondo State came second with a Smart Pond and won N30 million, while Aminu Sale Jino from Katsina State took third place and N20 million for an electric vehicle charging engine. Each of the 15 finalists also received N2 million from sponsor Zeberced. Under FutureMakers, a programme run with AfriLabs for children aged five to 16, Emmanuel Paul won N5 million for his invention, Lafiya Alert. In the competition for researchers in government agencies, which drew 261 entries, N162.5 million was awarded. Dr Moshood Lanre Adetoro of NASRDA won N70 million, Dr Habila Bitrus of the Nigerian Institute of Leather and Science Technology N40 million, and Isaac Johnson Ajeh of NIPRD N30 million. Winning innovations will receive mentorship, prototyping support, intellectual property protection and help to bring their products to market. Innovators who missed this edition are encouraged to watch NASENI's official channels for future calls for applications.