- Nigeria Ranked No. 1 Globally in Unicorn Valuation
- … 105th in Innovation Index
- The GII 2025 assessed innovation performance using about 80 indicators
Nigeria has emerged as the world leader in unicorn valuation, even as it ranked 105th out of nearly 140 economies in the Global Innovation Index (GII) 2025 released by the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), Eko Hot Blog reports.
WIPO, a United Nations agency focused on protecting and promoting innovation worldwide, unveiled the report on Tuesday, highlighting Nigeria’s mixed performance.
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While the country fell outside the top 100 overall, it was recognised as one of the fastest climbers this year and took the number one spot globally in unicorn valuation, reflecting the soaring value of Nigerian start-ups.
Unicorns are privately-owned start-up companies valued at over $1 billion but not yet listed on the stock exchange. WIPO attributed Nigeria’s position to growing high-tech imports and increased inflows of venture capital funding.
Across Sub-Saharan Africa, 10 economies recorded improved rankings. Mauritius remained the region’s leader at 53rd, followed by South Africa (61st), Seychelles (75th), Botswana (87th), and Senegal (89th). Namibia posted the region’s biggest leap, moving up 11 places to 91st, while Rwanda ranked 104th, just ahead of Nigeria.
Five African countries Seychelles, Malawi (125th), Lesotho (132nd), Guinea (133rd), and Congo (137th) entered the index for the first time.
Globally, Switzerland, Sweden, the United States, the Republic of Korea, and Singapore topped the index, with China breaking into the top 10 for the first time.
The GII 2025 assessed innovation performance using about 80 indicators, including research and development spending, venture capital deals, high-tech exports, and intellectual property filings.
Since its creation in 2007, the index has served as a reference point for governments and business leaders in shaping strategies to boost competitiveness and strengthen innovation ecosystems.
