Nigeria, Israel Boost Innovation with New iFAIR Funding

Nigeria and Israel have strengthened their partnership in research and innovation with new funding for the fifth cohort of the Israeli-Nigeria Innovation Fellowship for Aspiring Inventors and Researchers (iFAIR), which is scheduled to begin in October 2026. This announcement was made during the closing ceremony for the fourth cohort of innovators in Abuja.

The outgoing Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria, Michael Freeman, emphasized that iFAIR focuses on empowering Nigerian innovators to create local solutions with Israeli support. He noted that the initiative has fostered collaboration among government, academia, investors, and entrepreneurs to transform ideas into viable businesses.

Arch. Sonny Echono, Executive Secretary of TETFund, reaffirmed the Fund's commitment to innovation-driven research, stating that commercializing research outputs is vital for Nigeria's economic development.

He also mentioned plans for a National Research Fair later this year in Abuja, further supporting the initiative's goals.