By Favour Uduma
The Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI), Dr. Kazeem Kolawole Raji, has been honoured as a “Sustainable Development Icon” by the Centre for Sustainable Development (CESDEV), University of Ibadan.
The recognition is in acknowledgement of Dr. Raji’s leadership and contributions to promoting technology, innovation, enterprise development and sustainable economic growth in Nigeria.
The honour underscores the growing importance of linking technological advancement with broader development objectives, including job creation, entrepreneurship, industrial growth, social inclusion and improved quality of life.
Under Dr. Raji’s leadership, NBTI has continued to pursue initiatives aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem, supporting entrepreneurs, developing emerging technologies and fostering stronger collaboration among government, academia, industry and other stakeholders within the innovation community.
His approach to leadership emphasises the need for technology to move beyond innovation for its own sake and translate into practical economic and social benefits for Nigerians.
The recognition by CESDEV is therefore seen as an affirmation that leadership in technology, innovation and enterprise development is also a critical component of sustainable development.
For the University of Ibadan and CESDEV, the conferment reflects the Centre’s commitment to recognising individuals whose work contributes to research, innovation, leadership and sustainable development.
The recognition also serves as encouragement for Nigeria to continue investing in institutions and leaders capable of converting the country’s human and technological resources into sustainable economic and social value.
The honour has further been described as a celebration of Dr. Raji’s dedication to technology, innovation and national development, as well as an inspiration to the emerging generation of innovators and entrepreneurs.
