The Government of Israel has approved funding for the fifth edition of the Innovation Fellowship for Aspiring Inventors and Researchers, iFAIR.
Israel also reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem and supporting young entrepreneurs to transform research into thriving businesses.
Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria, Michael Freeman, announced the new funding on Friday at the closing ceremony and Innovation Showcase of iFAIR Cohort 4 in Abuja.
Freeman confirmed that the next cohort of the programme will commence in October 2026, describing the initiative as a testament to the growing innovation partnership between Nigeria and Israel
He noted that the fellowship has consistently empowered Nigerian innovators to develop homegrown solutions to local challenges.
“Today is a celebration of what is possible when Israel and Nigeria believe in each other. I am proud to announce that, with our partners, funding has been secured for iFAIR 5, which will launch in October 2026,” he said.
The ambassador said true innovation extends beyond technological advancement, stressing that resilience, creativity and the ability to identify opportunities in difficult circumstances are the qualities that distinguish successful innovators.
He explained that the fellowship was never intended to import Israeli solutions into Nigeria but rather to equip Nigerian researchers and entrepreneurs with the knowledge, mentorship and technical support needed to build indigenous solutions.
According to him, collaboration between both countries has continued to expand across technology, education, healthcare and water management, while acknowledging the contributions of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, TETFund, and Innov8 Hub in sustaining the programme.
Freeman urged members of the graduating cohort to remain focused on turning their ideas into impactful businesses, noting that their greatest achievement was not the certificates they would receive but their willingness to transform innovative concepts into practical solutions.
Also speaking, Executive Secretary of TETFund, Sonny Echono, said the iFAIR initiative is helping address one of the biggest challenges confronting Nigeria’s tertiary education sector by connecting academic research with industry and commercial enterprise.
He disclosed that the Fund is establishing innovation centres in more than 60 tertiary institutions across the country to enable students, researchers and innovators develop commercially viable products capable of addressing national and global challenges.
According to Echono, the centres are designed to bridge the longstanding gap between universities, government and the productive sector by creating an environment where research outcomes can be transformed into market-ready innovations.
Head of Programmes and Ventures at Innov8 Hub, Tolulope Aina, said Nigeria possesses abundant innovative talent but requires stronger institutions and support systems capable of converting ideas into industries that drive economic growth.
He revealed that Innov8 Hub has so far supported more than 3,000 researchers, innovators and entrepreneurs, while building a team of over 120 professionals dedicated to advancing the country’s innovation ecosystem.
The Chief Executive Officer of Engineers Without Borders Israel, Michal Dolav Hashimshony, praised the ingenuity displayed by participants in the fellowship, describing Innov8 Hub as a platform with the potential to accelerate innovation-driven development across Africa.
She also commended the growing contribution of women to Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem, describing the female innovators and technology leaders she met during the programme as exceptionally talented and a source of optimism for the future.
The iFAIR programme is a collaborative initiative of the Embassy of Israel in Nigeria, TETFund and Innov8 Hub.
The nine-month fellowship provides mentorship, technical training, product development support and investment opportunities to help early-stage innovators transform research ideas into sustainable businesses and commercially viable ventures.
