The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has commenced the establishment of innovation hubs in 45 beneficiary tertiary institutions across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
This will strengthen research, promote technological innovation and accelerate the commercialisation of locally developed products.
The initiative aims to transform tertiary institutions into centres of research and development (R&D), enabling academics to develop home-grown solutions to societal challenges, create enterprises and contribute to national economic growth.
The Director of Monitoring and Evaluation, Babatunde Olajide, who represented TETFund Executive Secretary, Sonny Echono, disclosed this at the closing ceremony of Cohort 34 of the Research for Impact (R4i) Initiative.
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The two-week programme equips researchers with practical innovation skills, research development techniques and expert mentorship to transform ideas into solutions, products and enterprises.
Olajide said the innovation hubs would provide facilities for researchers to apply the skills acquired during the programme, sustain collaborative research and translate innovative ideas into practical solutions.
He stressed the need for Nigeria to develop home-grown solutions rather than depend solely on technologies and innovations developed elsewhere.
“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.
The R4i Initiative, implemented in collaboration with Innov8 Technology Hub, equips researchers and academics from beneficiary institutions with practical skills to develop innovative research addressing societal needs.
Olajide disclosed that participants from previous cohorts had developed several prototypes, some of which had been patented, demonstrating the programme’s potential to translate academic research into tangible outcomes.
He said positive feedback from participants and their institutions had encouraged TETFund to sustain and expand the initiative.
To strengthen its impact, the Fund has increased the number of participants nominated by each selected institution from one to four.
The arrangement is intended to bring together researchers from complementary scientific backgrounds, promote teamwork and knowledge-sharing, and build a pool of academics capable of mentoring emerging researchers.
Collaborative Research
Olajide said the approach would encourage collaborative research and produce market-driven innovations with commercial potential.
He stated that the 45 innovation hubs would provide an enabling environment for researchers to develop their ideas beyond the intensive training sessions.
“The completion of this phase signifies the commencement of the next phase of working towards commercialisation of the products you have developed,” he said, urging participants to apply their knowledge to solving challenges in their institutions and communities.
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 tertiary institutions.
He said the programme was helping academics move beyond theoretical research to develop practical solutions, viable enterprises and products capable of addressing local challenges.
Ige encouraged participants to embrace experimentation and learn from setbacks, noting that failure was often part of the innovation process.
“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 urged researchers to sustain relationships established during the programme and use their knowledge to develop local technologies, create businesses and generate wealth.
The Director of Innov8 Technology Hub, Edward Singhatey, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to its partnership with TETFund, pledging to deploy cutting-edge technologies and relevant content to support innovation.
He said Innov8 would remain committed to helping advance research and innovation in Nigeria’s tertiary education system.
