The Federal Government has inaugurated a high-level Ministerial Committee tasked with driving the commercialisation of research outputs from Nigeria’s tertiary institutions.
The Research and Innovation Commercialisation Committee (RICC) was inaugurated in Abuja on Tuesday by the Minister of Education, Morufu Olatunji Alausa.
Alausa said the initiative aims to bridge the long-standing gap between academia and industry by turning homegrown research into commercially viable products and services. He noted that the development aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which seeks to transition Nigeria from a resource-dependent to a knowledge-based economy.
According to him, “Nations that have achieved sustainable development and global competitiveness have done so by investing in knowledge creation and, more importantly, in the effective commercialisation of research outputs.”
The committee is chaired by Dr Tayo Aduloju, CEO of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), and includes members such as Prof. Ibrahim Katampe, Dr Umar Bindir, Prof. Sydney Ibeanusi, Dr Detoun Ogwu, and representatives from the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, the Bank of Industry, the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), and Nigerian universities.
Alausa said the Ministry, through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), has already rolled out several impactful research-support projects, including the provision of central multipurpose laboratories, alternative energy sources for campuses, and medical simulation centres.
However, he acknowledged the persistent challenge of translating academic breakthroughs into practical, scalable solutions.
He stated that “The weak link between academia and industry has limited our ability to reap the enormous benefits of research. This committee will serve as a strategic bridge between both worlds.”
He further noted that “The commercialisation of research outputs will not only generate revenue for institutions and researchers but will also enhance Nigeria’s self-reliance, improve the innovation index, and attract international investments.”
The Minister also announced the launch of a ₦50 million Student Grant Venture Capital Initiative to support student-led enterprises. The initiative, to be anchored by TETFund in partnership with the Bank of India, targets undergraduates in 300-level and above with viable business models ready for market expansion.
He said, “We have hundreds of thousands of young geniuses across our institutions. This fund is designed to unlock their potential and help them build globally competitive enterprises.”
The Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Said Ahmad, described the inauguration as a turning point for Nigeria’s education sector.
She said, “For too long, research in our tertiary institutions has been reduced to tools for promotion rather than solutions for development. This must change.”
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Sonny Echono, praised the Minister for his backing of the Fund’s various initiatives.
He said, “TETFund has championed several initiatives geared towards promoting impactful research and to facilitate the uptake of research outcomes with potential commercialisation.”
He added, “I am glad that the chairman of the committee has been a partner in our journey to create synergy—to be a triple helix—bringing together government, private sector, and academia. We’ve also been working with communities of practice, business communities, and local communities to properly situate research as the engine of growth in the economy.”
In his response, Committee Chairman Aduloju described the RICC as “a matter of national urgency,” noting that Nigeria’s research investment as a percentage of GDP remains among the lowest globally.
He said, “If Mr President’s ‘Nigeria First’ policy is to truly drive transformation, then innovation capital must lead the charge.”
Aduloju also stressed the need for cross-ministerial collaboration and involvement of sub-national governments in the innovation process. He called on the Minister to support the convening of a National Innovation Forum to bring together relevant ministries and state actors.
He concluded by saying, “The private sector has been disconnected for too long. We are committed to building institutional linkages that last beyond this committee’s lifespan.”