The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has urged Nigerian academics and researchers to translate scholarly research into practical innovations capable of addressing societal challenges, creating jobs and generating wealth.
The Executive Secretary of TETFund, Dr Sonny Echono, made the call in Abuja on Friday through the Assistant Director, Research and Development, Dr Hadiza Ismail, at the closing ceremony of the 35th cohort of the Research for Impact Initiative (R4i).
Echono said the initiative, implemented in partnership with Innov8 Hub, was part of the Fund’s efforts to institutionalise research and development in public tertiary institutions and strengthen collaboration among academia, industry and government.
He stressed the need for Nigeria to develop home-grown technologies rather than depend excessively on innovations from other countries.
“We must empower our scholars to create local solutions for our societal problems. This is why a commitment to education is a commitment to our nation’s future, ensuring that our people are not just consumers of foreign technology, but innovators who can drive sustainable growth,” he said.
According to him, technological advancement has become a major driver of economic transformation, making investment in quality education, research and innovation essential for sustainable national development.
“At TETFund, we are refocusing and reinvigorating our intervention activities to drive the institutionalisation of Research and Development in public tertiary institutions, enhance research capacity, and support research-industry linkage, among others,” Echono said.
He explained that the R4i initiative was designed to reposition public tertiary institutions as drivers of a knowledge-based economy by encouraging innovative practices and solution-driven research.
The TETFund executive secretary commended Innov8 Hub for providing technical expertise and mentorship to participating academics, urging the graduates to apply the knowledge acquired during the intensive training to develop solutions for their institutions and communities.
He disclosed that innovations from previous editions of the programme were showcased at the maiden TETFund National Research Fair and Exhibition in November 2024.
Echono announced that the second edition of the fair would hold from November 23 to 27, 2026, at the Abuja Trade and Convention Centre, Airport Road.
He said the event would provide researchers with opportunities to showcase their innovations, engage industry players and explore partnerships for commercialising research outputs.
Also speaking, the Deputy General Manager of Innov8 Hub, Dr Deji Ige, said the initiative was established to promote a culture in which research and development drive innovation, enterprise creation and national development.
Ige said the programme was encouraging academics to rethink the purpose of research by focusing on practical solutions with the potential to benefit industry and society.
“Innovation thrives in a culture where research and development are the primary languages of interaction. If we can learn, understand and revive this culture, the outcomes will include inventions, solutions, technological advancement, enterprise development, job creation, wealth generation, meaningful impact and societal development,” he said.
He described the initiative as a shift towards stronger collaboration among government, academia, industry and society, warning that research without practical impact could limit the contributions of tertiary institutions to technological advancement.
“Impact-driven research and development is what keeps it afloat and enables it to navigate safely. Without impact flowing from research and development, academia becomes an immobile vessel, bereft of progress, possibilities and the power to navigate,” Ige added.
One of the participants, Farida Adamu Mohammed of the Federal Polytechnic, Damaturu, said the programme had transformed her understanding of research by shifting her focus from academic publications to solutions that could be commercialised.
Mohammed said the 10-day intensive training equipped participants with skills in identifying real-world problems, selecting viable ideas, understanding users’ needs and developing prototypes.
She added that the training exposed participants to the responsible use of artificial intelligence, the Business Model Canvas, user co-creation and effective communication for pitching ideas to potential funders and collaborators.
“Indeed, R4i has completely changed my perspective on research, shifting my focus from research for publication to research that creates impact, drives commercialisation, and generates profit,” she said.
Similarly, Engr. Austine Omoraka of the Federal Polytechnic, Orogun, Delta State, said the programme had strengthened his commitment to applying engineering research to practical challenges in Nigeria, particularly in his state.
Omoraka explained that the combination of research, prototyping, market validation and business planning had provided him with a more structured approach to developing ideas into potentially marketable solutions.
“The training has encouraged me to view research not merely as an academic exercise but as a pathway to innovation and societal transformation,” he said.
He added that applying the knowledge gained could promote affordable local technologies, entrepreneurship, employment opportunities and sustainable economic growth.
The 35th cohort unveiled several innovations developed to address challenges in food safety, water purification, waste management, agriculture and public health.
Among them was Bake Check, a web-based application designed to screen bread for bromate by analysing colour changes in a test solution through image capture and calibration.
Another team developed EcoCeramix, a bio-absorbent clay geofilter cartridge made from locally calcined clay, silica and rice husk ash. The device is designed to fit standard household water-storage buckets.
Other innovations included EcoSort, a hardware-based device designed to scan waste at dump sites and recycling facilities; AgriVault, a cooperative-operated storage facility; a real-time delivery tracking application; and a solar-powered mosquito-responsive device.
The Research for Impact Initiative, launched in 2022, is a collaborative programme through which TETFund and Innov8 Hub seek to bridge the gap between academic research and practical application by helping researchers transform ideas into innovations, prototypes and potentially commercial products.
The programme provides hands-on training in problem identification, ideation, prototyping, testing, business planning, pitching and fundraising, with the aim of improving the prospects of research adoption and commercialisation.
Its broader objective is to strengthen collaboration among government, academia, industry and society while positioning Nigerian tertiary institutions to contribute more directly to technological advancement and economic development.
