The Climate Innovation Ecosystem Development (CIED) programme, implemented by Startup Kano under the PACE initiative and supported by the UK in Nigeria, was designed as a structured journey to transform early-stage climate ideas into investment-ready enterprises.
This journey culminated in a high-impact Demo Pitch Day, where participating startups presented their climate-focused innovations to a diverse audience of stakeholders from government, development partners, the private sector, and investment institutions, including Jaiz Bank, Green Legacy, Sabou Capital, and several others.
Serving as a powerful convergence point for policy, investment, and innovation, the event brought together key actors committed to strengthening climate action, green enterprise development, and sustainable economic growth in Kano State and beyond.
Notably, the occasion attracted several distinguished dignitaries, underscoring the initiative’s strategic importance within both state and national innovation ecosystems. In attendance were Magajin Garin Kano, Alhaji Muhammad Nasiru Wada, who also serves as Chairman of Green Legacy; the Director General of KASITDA, Dr. Bashir Abdu Muzakkari; the Director General of KANINVEST, Muhammad Nazir Halliru; Dr. Dahiru Muhammad Hashim, Honourable Commissioner for the Kano State Ministry of Environment and Climate Change; and Dr. Umar Anka, Director of Climate Change under the Ministry, alongside other senior government officials, ecosystem leaders, and private sector stakeholders.
A key highlight of the day was the strong demonstration of government commitment to climate innovation and startup growth. In a significant show of support, the Kano State Ministry of Environment and Climate Change announced a ₦2 million cash commitment to these startups, reinforcing the State Government’s dedication to fostering innovation and unlocking climate finance.
Also unveiled during the event, the Climate Innovation Startup Toolkit was officially presented by Dr. Umar Anka, marking a major milestone in providing structured guidance for entrepreneurs building climate-smart and investment-ready businesses. Designed as a practical resource, the toolkit aims to support innovators across Kano and Nigeria by bridging knowledge gaps and improving the quality, structure, and scalability of early-stage ventures within the ecosystem.
Following a series of compelling pitches spanning climate adaptation, clean energy, waste management, circular economy solutions, and sustainable agriculture, startups were evaluated based on innovation, scalability, market readiness, and environmental impact. At the close of the pitching sessions, Her Ecospace emerged as the overall winner, followed by Beta Agric (Bera Tomato) in second place. Both startups were awarded £1,000 each in recognition of their performance, innovation quality, and potential for scale within and beyond Nigeria.
Marking the successful conclusion of the CIED journey, the Demo Day demonstrated how structured capacity building, targeted mentorship, and strong ecosystem collaboration can translate into tangible innovation outcomes. It also emphasized the importance of creating intentional pathways that move startups from ideation to validation and, ultimately, toward investment readiness and market entry.
More importantly, the event reinforced a central message: when government institutions, investors, development partners, and innovators align around a shared vision, climate solutions can move beyond prototypes to become scalable enterprises capable of delivering real economic, environmental, and social impact.
Beyond CIED, broader efforts are underway to strengthen Nigeria’s innovation and commercialization ecosystem. In this context, the Federal Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation is set to launch a landmark national initiative titled Energizing Commercialization Now (ECoN), with Kano State selected as the first host location, further reinforcing its position as an emerging hub for innovation, research, and enterprise development. Scheduled to take place from 23rd to 25th April, the initiative will be officially launched on the 23rd by the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, marking a significant milestone in bridging the gap between research, innovation, and commercial markets.
Bringing together innovators, researchers, policymakers, and investors, ECoN is designed to strengthen Nigeria’s innovation-to-market pipeline by addressing key systemic challenges, including weak linkages between innovators and investors, fragmented discovery systems, and limited validation structures. Through a more coordinated approach, the initiative will promote collaboration, improve access to funding and mentorship, and support the transition of early-stage ideas into market-ready, investment-grade ventures across priority sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, energy, and solid minerals.
Structured as a fully integrated investment activation platform, ECoN will feature investor pitch sessions, curated deal rooms, and targeted matchmaking opportunities to facilitate real investment outcomes. With projections to unlock over ₦10 billion in investment and support more than 200 innovations, the initiative complements the CIED programme by expanding national pathways for scaling, funding, and commercialization.
Together, the CIED programme and the upcoming ECoN initiative reflect a coordinated and strategic push to strengthen Nigeria’s innovation-to-commercialization ecosystem. While CIED focuses on building the capacity and readiness of early-stage climate innovators, ECoN expands the ecosystem by creating structured national pathways for scaling, funding, and market access.
In combination, both initiatives position Kano not only as a leading hub for innovation development but also as a critical gateway for transforming ideas into investable, scalable, and globally competitive enterprises capable of driving long-term economic transformation.
We are also proud to celebrate one of our Board Members, Amina Sambo Magaji, on her recognition as one of the 30 Outstanding Women in Data & AI 2026.
This recognition celebrates the impact women are making globally in shaping the future of data and artificial intelligence, solving real problems, driving innovation, and opening doors for others. Her achievement reflects the kind of leadership, vision, and commitment required to advance inclusive innovation ecosystems and build capacity for the next generation.
To keep up with updates, milestones, and the impact of the Climate Innovation Ecosystem Development (CIED) program, follow our social media channels and join us in tracking the progress of innovations and partnerships shaping Kano’s economic future.