Author: By Justice Okamgba

The Young Africa Innovates Programme will stage State Innovation Showcases in seven Nigerian states this December, highlighting youth-led solutions to pressing community problems.

Run by the United Nations Development Programme in collaboration with the Mastercard Foundation, the initiative seeks to channel resources into these innovations, helping transform promising ideas into scalable projects that promote inclusive economic growth.

According to a statement on Wednesday, the programme received more than 9,000 applications from young innovators nationwide. Of these, 1,348 were admitted to intensive bootcamps emphasising business model development, design thinking, and impact-orientated solution design. From that cohort, 205 standout participants advanced to the stage-gating phase, a rigorous incubation programme designed to test, validate, and scale their innovations.

Over the past four months, participants have engaged in residency workshops, mentorship sessions, and peer-to-peer learning circles to develop minimum viable products, refine business strategies, build partnerships, and strengthen market access. The programme places a strong emphasis on inclusion, with more than 70 per cent of selected innovators being women and 14 per cent persons with disabilities.