Nigeria’s Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has opened participation in its 2026 National Research Fair and Exhibition to innovators, researchers and entrepreneurs nationwide as part of efforts to accelerate the commercialisation of research and strengthen the country’s innovation ecosystem.
The initiative marks a significant expansion of the programme, which was previously limited to TETFund beneficiary institutions. The 2026 edition will welcome independent inventors, start-ups, entrepreneurs and researchers from across Nigeria.
Speaking in Abuja on Friday while inaugurating the organising committee for the exhibition, TETFund Executive Secretary, Mr Sonny Echono, said the event would serve as a national platform for showcasing research-driven products and services with strong commercial potential.
“We will invite entries from across the country, and any Nigerian who has developed a product, service or innovation will have the opportunity to apply. The committee will evaluate the submissions and select those with the greatest commercial potential for exhibition,” he said.
Echono said the Fund aims to establish the exhibition as Nigeria’s premier platform for innovation by creating stronger links between researchers, manufacturers, investors, venture capitalists, entrepreneurs and technology licensing professionals.
“Our objective is to create an environment where researchers and industry can collaborate to transform innovative ideas into commercially viable products and services that contribute to national development,” he stated.
According to him, the expansion followed the success of the maiden edition in 2024 and was approved by the TETFund Board of Trustees.
The reconstituted organising committee includes representatives from the organised private sector, innovation hubs, relevant government ministries, the military and the Association of Nigerian Inventors to broaden industry participation and strengthen commercial partnerships.
Echono said the committee would also develop a national database of research outputs and innovations from universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, research institutes and independent innovators, while clustering technologies by sector to attract investment and facilitate industry collaboration.
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An international conference will be held alongside the exhibition, bringing together experts from Africa and beyond to share knowledge, strengthen research partnerships and showcase Nigeria’s growing innovation ecosystem.
“The conference will provide an opportunity to exchange global best practices and position Nigeria as a leading innovation destination in Africa,” he said.
Echono noted that the initiative supports the Federal Government’s drive to promote local manufacturing, industrialisation, job creation and economic diversification through research and innovation.
“In today’s knowledge-driven economy, innovation is a key driver of competitiveness. Nigeria possesses enormous intellectual capacity, and our responsibility is to translate research into practical solutions that create jobs, strengthen industry and generate wealth,” he said.
Also speaking, TETFund’s Director of Research and Development, Mr Suleiman Zangina, said the Fund had made substantial investments in research over the years, resulting in numerous innovations ready for commercialisation.
He explained that the National Research Fair and Exhibition was established to bridge the gap between academia and industry by connecting researchers with businesses capable of transforming research outcomes into market-ready products and services.
Chairman of the organising committee, Mr Umar Bindir, said greater private sector participation would be the defining feature of the 2026 edition.
He stressed that stronger collaboration between academia and industry is essential for converting research into economic value, creating sustainable businesses, generating employment and reducing poverty.
“The private sector will play a central role because commercialisation can only succeed when industry takes ownership of innovation. We are committed to ensuring that Nigerian research translates into thriving industries and tangible economic benefits,” Bindir said.
