The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has announced plans to establish innovation hubs in 45 beneficiary tertiary institutions across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones to strengthen research, promote innovation and support national development.
The Executive Secretary of TETFund, Arc. Sonny Echono, disclosed this at the closing ceremony of the Research for Impact (R4i) initiative in Abuja. He was represented at the event by the Director of Monitoring and Evaluation, Arc. Babatunde Olajide.
The initiative, implemented in partnership with Innov8 Technology Hub, is designed to equip researchers and academics with the skills needed to develop practical solutions to societal challenges.
Echono said the programme aligns with TETFund’s strategy to strengthen research and development in tertiary institutions and promote sustainable economic growth through locally developed innovations.
He noted that participants in previous cohorts had developed several prototypes, some of which had been patented, expressing optimism that the latest participants would achieve similar results.
According to him, the number of nominees permitted from each institution has increased from one at the programme’s inception to four. The expansion is intended to bring together researchers from complementary scientific backgrounds, encourage collaboration and support the mentoring of emerging scholars.
Echono explained that the proposed innovation hubs would provide facilities and an enabling environment for participants to continue their research, develop prototypes and translate their ideas into practical applications.
He also urged participants in Cohort 34 to apply the knowledge acquired during the two-week intensive training, noting that the next phase of the initiative would focus on commercialising the products developed.
The Executive Secretary reaffirmed TETFund’s commitment to supporting research and innovation, adding that sustained collaboration could accelerate Nigeria’s technological advancement.
Speaking at the event, the Deputy General Manager of Innov8 Technology Hub, Deji Ige, commended TETFund for investing in research and national development.
Ige described the partnership as an example of how collaboration between institutions could advance innovation. He said the R4i initiative provided academics with opportunities to transform research ideas into practical solutions, innovative products and viable businesses.
He encouraged participants to view failure as part of the innovation process and to sustain the relationships established during the programme.
Ige added that with adequate funding, equipment, technical expertise and mentorship, Nigerian researchers could develop competitive technologies, establish enterprises and contribute to economic growth.
The planned innovation hubs are expected to support the translation of academic research into practical solutions, strengthen institutional research capacity and create opportunities for the commercialisation of locally developed technologies.
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