L-R: Dr. Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh, the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology; Professor Sa’adatu Hassan Liman, Vice Chancellor of Nasarawa State University, and Dr. Tope Fasua, Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Economic Affairs
This year’s event shines with renewed national significance as it welcomes three distinguished leaders whose work continues to shape Nigeria’s innovation, economic transformation, and academic excellence:
At the forefront is Dr. Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh, the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, whose leadership marks a new era of intentional investment in research, innovation ecosystems, and youth-driven technologies.
His participation underscores the government’s strengthened commitment to fostering innovation-led growth and positioning Nigeria as a competitive global player in science and technology.
Dr. Udeh is expected to challenge the finalists to see innovation as a national duty, one capable of catalyzing economic resilience, industrialization, and global competitiveness.
Also headlining the event is Dr. Tope Fasua, Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Economic Affairs.
Renowned for his thought leadership in economic restructuring and productivity-led growth, Dr. Fasua will provide insights on how youth innovation can align with Nigeria’s broader economic transformation agenda.
His message is anticipated to empower young inventors with a clearer understanding of how their ideas can transition into scalable enterprises that drive economic diversification, job creation, and national prosperity.
Adding an academic perspective is Professor Sa’adatu Hassan Liman, Vice Chancellor of Nasarawa State University, whose leadership emphasizes the role of universities as engines of innovation. She is expected to inspire students to pursue research excellence with a view toward commercialization, industry relevance, and societal impact.
COUCH 2025: A Platform for Transformative Youth Innovation
The COUCH finale, which coincides with the Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) themed “Together We Build”, serves as a national platform for showcasing ingenuity, creativity, and entrepreneurial capability among Nigerian youth.
Stakeholders from government, academia, industry, and the private sector will be present to interact directly with the innovators and explore partnerships that can help move their ideas from prototypes to market-ready solutions.
Speaking ahead of the finals, Olajide Ademola Ajayi, Founder of Coderina Education and Technology Foundation, emphasized the need for universities to rethink the role of research in national development:
“It is not enough anymore for university projects and brilliant research to end up gathering dust on the shelves of lecturers or in departmental archives. There must be a mindshift — one that moves research and innovation from the realm of academic exercise into the real economy, where ideas translate into viable enterprises, products, and impactful solutions.”
Shaping Nigeria’s Innovation Future
The COUCH initiative continues to bridge the gap between academic output and industry demands, equipping Nigerian students to develop practical solutions that foster job creation, accelerate innovation, and contribute to national development.
With the strategic presence of Dr. Udeh, Dr. Fasua, and Prof. Liman, COUCH 2025 is set to become a defining moment for young innovators ready to shape the future of Nigeria’s digital and economic landscape.
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