Nigerian entrepreneur and technology strategist, Damilare Bakare, has continued to make a mark in Canada’s innovation space after his company, X-Innovations, clinched Alberta’s Trade Accelerator Program (TAP) Export Plan of the Year 2025 Award.

The award, presented on January 29, 2026, recognised the commercialisation strategy behind the company’s dual-use AI wearable technology designed for the health and fitness sector.

The recognition highlights the strength of X-Innovations’ export strategy and points to the growing influence of African-founded innovation companies competing on the global stage, at a time when Nigeria itself will be watching the FIFA World Cup 2026 from outside the tournament. For founders and investors looking to understand how African-led ventures are breaking into international markets, X-Innovations’ story offers a compelling case study, and an open door. Scan the QR code below to learn more.

Bakare, who hails from Nigeria and studied at Covenant University