NBTI, NDE Join Forces to Drive Employment and Innovation Growth
The National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI) has entered into a strategic collaboration with the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) aimed at expanding job opportunities, enhancing skills acquisition, and strengthening entrepreneurship development across Nigeria.
The partnership, formalised on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, and is designed to bridge the gap between skills training and sustainable enterprise creation.
NBTI, which is responsible for commercialising research outcomes and supporting technology-based innovations through its nationwide Technology Incubation Centres, will work closely with NDE, the agency mandated to combat unemployment through vocational training, entrepreneurship programmes, and employment facilitation.
The agreement was signed at the NBTI Headquarters in Abuja by the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of NBTI, Dr. Kazeem Kolawole Raji, and his NDE counterpart, His Excellency Silas Ali Agara.
Under the collaboration, both agencies will combine their strengths to ensure that beneficiaries of skills acquisition programmes are effectively guided toward technology incubation, business development, and the creation of viable, market-ready enterprises.
Speaking during the signing ceremony, Dr. Raji described the partnership as a product of a longstanding professional relationship with the NDE Director-General. He revealed that a joint technical committee would be established immediately to operationalise and scale the initiative nationwide. He also commended the management and directors of both agencies for their dedication and teamwork in bringing the partnership to reality.
In his remarks, Mr. Agara praised the leadership of Dr. Raji, noting that the current administration at NBTI has consistently delivered impactful results within a short period. He recalled following the 2025 NextGen Innovation Challenge and witnessing its influence during engagements in London, adding that NBTI has emerged as one of the most visible and talked-about government agencies within a year. He expressed confidence that the collaboration would yield measurable benefits for Nigerians.
The partnership is expected to expand access to skills development, innovation support, mentorship, and structured pathways to self-employment, contributing significantly to national economic growth and employment generation.
