The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has commenced the establishment of Innovation Hubs in 45 beneficiary tertiary institutions across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones to strengthen research, promote technological innovation and accelerate the commercialisation of locally developed products.
The initiative is aimed at transforming tertiary institutions into research and development centres where academics can develop home-grown technologies, create viable enterprises and provide practical solutions to societal challenges.
The Director of Monitoring and Evaluation, TETFund, Arc. Babatunde Olajide, who represented the Executive Secretary, Sonny Echono, disclosed this at the closing ceremony of Cohort 34 of the Research for Impact (R4i) Initiative on Friday.
Olajide said the Innovation Hubs would provide researchers with the facilities and enabling environment to apply the skills acquired during the programme, sustain collaborative research and translate innovative ideas into marketable products.
He explained that TETFund’s investment in research was driven by the need to build a knowledge-based economy through high-impact innovation capable of promoting sustainable national development.
“Education remains a critical cornerstone of nation-building, while technology has taken centre stage globally in transforming lives, generating wealth and shaping nations,” he said.
Olajide stressed the importance of developing indigenous technologies to address Nigeria’s challenges, noting that the country must reduce its dependence on innovations developed elsewhere.
The two-week R4i programme, implemented in collaboration with Innov8 Technology Hub, equips researchers and academics from beneficiary institutions with practical skills, innovation techniques and expert mentorship to transform research ideas into solutions, products and enterprises.
According to Olajide, participants from previous cohorts have developed several prototypes, some of which have been patented, demonstrating the programme’s potential to bridge the gap between academic research and practical applications.
He said positive feedback from participants and their institutions had encouraged the Fund to sustain and expand the initiative.
As part of the expansion, TETFund has increased the number of participants nominated by each selected beneficiary institution from one to four.
Olajide explained that the arrangement was designed to bring together researchers from complementary scientific disciplines, promote teamwork and knowledge-sharing, and develop a pool of innovative academics capable of mentoring younger researchers.
He added that the approach would help institutionalise collaborative research practices and encourage the development of market-driven innovations with commercial potential.
“The essence is to build a team of innovative researchers who will mentor upcoming scholars in the system, thereby promoting the entrenchment and sustainability of collaborative and innovative research practices in our institutions,” he said.
Olajide urged participants to build on the knowledge acquired during the training and remain committed to developing solutions that would benefit their institutions and communities.
“The completion of this phase signifies the commencement of the next phase of working towards commercialisation of the products you have developed,” he said.
In his remarks, the Deputy General Manager of Innov8 Technology Hub, Deji Ige, described the partnership with TETFund as an important step towards strengthening research, innovation and enterprise creation in Nigeria’s tertiary education system.
Ige said the initiative was creating opportunities for academics to move beyond theoretical research and develop practical solutions capable of addressing local challenges.
He noted that the programme was helping researchers explore ways of converting their knowledge and expertise into innovative products, viable businesses and technologies that could contribute to national development.
“Research for Impact is more than an initiative. It is a lamp unto the path of Nigerians, especially members of the academia, who have long awaited an opportunity to begin the journey towards translating ideas into innovation, solutions and action,” he said.
Ige encouraged participants to embrace experimentation and view setbacks as part of the innovation process, stressing that the development of new technologies often involved challenges and failures.
“When you are looking to innovate, do not be afraid of failure, because failure is part of the chaotic process of innovation. So, embrace the opportunity,” he said.
He also urged the researchers to sustain the professional relationships established during the programme and apply their knowledge to developing indigenous technologies, establishing businesses and creating wealth.
Similarly, the Director of Innov8 Technology Hub, Edward Singhatey, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to strengthening its partnership with TETFund and advancing innovation in Nigeria.
Singhatey pledged that Innov8 would continue to deploy cutting-edge technologies and relevant content to support the programme and deliver on its mandate.
“We are passionate about innovation, and as long as you continue to trust and have confidence in us, we will keep searching for cutting-edge technology and the latest content to deliver on our mandate. We will forever remain a committed partner in innovation to TETFund,” he said.
