The National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI), on Wednesday, 4th February 2026, entered into a strategic partnership with the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) to strengthen job creation, skills development, and entrepreneurship in Nigeria, in alignment with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.
NBTI is mandated to commercialize the outcomes of Research and Development and to nurture technology-driven innovations and startups through its nationwide network of Technology Incubation Centres. NDE, on the other hand, is responsible for tackling unemployment through vocational skills training, entrepreneurship development, and employment facilitation.
The partnership agreement was executed at the NBTI Headquarters, Abuja, by the Director-General/CEO of NBTI, Dr. Kazeem Kolawole Raji, and the Director-General/CEO of NDE, His Excellency Silas Ali Agara, on behalf of their respective agencies.
The collaboration leverages the complementary strengths of both agencies by bridging skills acquisition with technology incubation and enterprise development. This synergy will ensure that trained Nigerians are able to translate their ideas and skills into sustainable, market-ready businesses.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Kazeem Kolawole Raji noted that the partnership is deeply rooted in a long-standing relationship with the Director-General of NDE, who has consistently supported NBTI even prior to the formal collaboration. He disclosed that both agencies would immediately set up a joint technical team to scale and operationalize the partnership. Dr. Raji also appreciated the directors and management teams of both agencies for their commitment and support in driving the initiative to fruition.
In his remarks, the Director-General of NDE, His Excellency Silas Ali Agara, commended the NBTI-led administration under Dr. Kazeem Kolawole Raji, describing it as one that has consistently demonstrated the capacity to deliver beyond expectations. He noted that he not only followed the NextGen Innovation Challenge in 2025 but also witnessed its impact during engagements in London. He highlighted how Dr. Raji has repositioned NBTI as one of the most talked-about agencies within a year. Expressing confidence in the partnership, he stated that his longstanding relationship with Dr. Raji would further ensure that the collaboration delivers tangible benefits to Nigerians.
Through this partnership, Nigerians will gain improved access to skills training, innovation support, mentorship, and structured pathways to self-reliance, contributing significantly to economic growth and employment generation in Nigeria.
