We had the honour of hosting Sharren Haskel, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Israel, on her first-ever visit to Nigeria. She was accompanied by the Ambassador of Israel to Nigeria, Mr. Michael Freeman, the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Arc Sonny Echono, and a representative of Nigeria’s Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani.

This was not just a ceremonial stop. It was a strategic moment to widen the impact of innovation and strengthen bilateral relations between Nigeria and Israel, with i-FAIR 4 in clear view.

i-FAIR: A Bridge for Ideas and Nations

i-FAIR is a joint initiative of the Embassy of Israel in Nigeria, the Office of the Vice President of Nigeria, and Innov8 Hub as technical partner.

Its mission is ambitious yet clear: empower innovators, inventors, entrepreneurs, and venture creators to turn local challenges into Made-in-Nigeria solutions and inspire the nation to become a start-up nation.

Across its first three editions, i-FAIR has transformed ideas into prototypes, prototypes into products, and products into impact stories; strengthening communities and building industries from the ground up.

A Day of Dialogue and Collaboration

During the visit, conversations centred on scaling the reach of i-FAIR, deepening technical collaboration, and unlocking more opportunities for Nigerian innovators.

As part of the day’s agenda, an agreement was also signed between the Ambassador of Israel to Nigeria and Minister Bosun Tijani, underscoring a shared commitment to advancing communications, technology, and the digital economy.

But beyond the formalities, Deputy Minister Sharren Haskel’s words captured the heart of the day.

She described Innov8 Hub as “a place of incredible inspiration” where Nigerians are equipped with the tools to develop their dreams and bring them to life, not just for themselves but for the good of the country.

She went on to thank every member of the Innov8 Hub team for their dedication, calling their work “remarkable” and praising the way they help innovators across sectors, from medicine to agriculture to technology, create solutions that develop the nation.

“We see how this is bringing investments into the country, how it is elevating and creating jobs, and it’s remarkable and incredible. This project is almost a green-and-white Nigerian project — it’s the people who are benefiting, and that is inspiring.”

Sharren Haskel, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Israel

More Than a Visit

For Innov8 Hub and the i-FAIR community, the presence of Sharren Haskel was a reminder that innovation is not bound by borders; it is strengthened by them.

With i-FAIR 4 on the horizon, this partnership is set to open new doors for Nigeria’s brightest minds, giving them the tools, mentorship, and global exposure they need to create solutions with impact far beyond our borders.

Nigeria’s innovators have the world’s attention, and the next chapter is about to begin.