Call for Applications: NESI Innovation Challenge 2026 Offers ₦10m Prize Pool
Innovators with bold ideas for transforming Nigeria’s electricity sector can now submit their solutions for the NESI Innovation Challenge 2026, with a total ₦10 million prize pool available to outstanding participants.
The challenge is designed to discover and support innovative technologies, products and business solutions capable of addressing some of the most pressing challenges across Nigeria’s power sector.
From improving electricity access and reliability to reducing losses and making energy services more efficient, the competition is seeking ideas that can move beyond theory and deliver practical impact.
Beyond the financial rewards, successful participants could gain access to industry mentorship, networking, incubation, pilot opportunities and potential partnerships, providing a pathway for promising innovations to progress from early-stage concepts to real-world solutions.
Who Can Apply?
The competition is open to a wide range of innovators and problem-solvers, including startup founders, students, researchers, entrepreneurs, software developers, engineers, energy professionals and academic research teams.
Individual innovators and teams can participate, provided their proposed solutions address challenges within Nigeria’s electricity or broader energy ecosystem.
What Solutions Are Being Sought?
Applicants can submit ideas across several PowerTech areas, including:
- Renewable energy, energy storage and microgrids
- Smart metering and electricity billing
- Grid monitoring, automation and management
- Artificial intelligence and energy data
- Energy access and inclusion
- Climate and sustainability solutions
- Electricity theft and technical/commercial loss reduction
- Infrastructure and Internet of Things (IoT)
- Energy financing and economics
- Customer experience and service delivery
- Electricity market operations
- Regulatory technology
The wide range of categories gives innovators an opportunity to tackle problems affecting consumers, businesses, power companies and other stakeholders across the Nigerian electricity value chain.
Opportunity for Emerging Innovators
Nigeria’s power sector continues to grapple with issues including unreliable supply, limited access, infrastructure gaps, high costs and distribution losses. The NESI Innovation Challenge is aimed at encouraging fresh thinking around these challenges by giving innovators a platform to present solutions with the potential for measurable impact.
For emerging entrepreneurs and technology developers, the competition could provide more than prize money. Exposure to industry experts, potential investors and strategic partners could help turn promising ideas into scalable energy solutions.
With ₦10 million in prize funding up for grabs, applicants are encouraged to develop practical, innovative solutions that demonstrate clear value and potential for deployment.
Interested applicants should review the competition requirements and submit their entries through the designated application channel.
Application: NESI Innovation Challenge 2026 Application Form
Applicants should confirm the latest competition guidelines and application deadline through the organisers’ official communication channels before submitting their entries.
