Made-in-Jos Naruda Herbal Tea Heads to London for 2026 NextGen Innovation Challenge
By Luca Atukpa-Elayo
Another Made-in-Jos product will feature among 173 Nigerian products at the grand finale of the International 2026 NextGen Innovation Challenge in London, United Kingdom.
Naruda Herbal Tea, a product of Naruda Integrated Ltd., is an emerging health and wellness brand based in Jos. The company specializes in the production, processing and packaging of natural teas and beverages, using a farm-to-cup model that prioritizes health focused products made from 100% locally sourced natural ingredients.
The NextGen Innovation Challenge is an initiative of the UKALD in partnership with the National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI) – an agency under the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, with the mandate of promoting technology incubation, innovation, entrepreneurship and enterprise development in Nigeria.
Launched in 2025 at Hilton London Bankside, the Challenge brings together international investors and technology stakeholders. The 2026 edition commenced in February with 2,900 entries. After a rigorous selection process, only 296 innovators advanced to the National Showcase held on August 6th at the Nicon Luxury Hotel, Abuja, where Naruda Tea emerged as one of the outstanding innovators.
Naruda Tea comes in five nutritional and medicinal varieties: Zobo Tea, Mint Tea, Moringa Tea, Green Monkey Tea and 3-in-1 Tea.
The company, Naruda Integrated Ltd., is managed by three young entrepreneurs from Shendam Local Government Area of Plateau State. They are the Founder and CEO, Mr. Rupert Naantuam Adidi, a highly skilled Chinese-trained Aviation Engineer and Manager; his sister and Co-founder/Managing Director, Mrs. Ruby Petkwap Sallah, an industrious and passionate entrepreneur who holds a BSc in Mathematics from the Federal University of Technology, Minna and a PGD in Management from the University of Jos; and her husband, Mr. Brendan Keriaknian Sallah, the immediate past Speaker of the Plateau Youth Council (PYC), who serves as Marketing Director. He is a skilled marketer with a Diploma in Business Education from Plateau State Polytechnic and a B.Ed in Administration and Planning from the University of Jos.
The grand finale, scheduled for Friday, 9th October, 2026 at the Platinum Suite, ExCeL London, will hold in the presence of 3,000 international delegates. It will offer Naruda unprecedented international exposure, potential investment opportunities, partnerships, access to global markets, and a chance to win the grand cash prize of £1.5 million.
