By Felix Khanoba
The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has begun establishing Innovation Hubs in 45 beneficiary tertiary institutions across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones to accelerate the commercialisation of research findings and promote home-grown technological solutions.
The initiative is aimed at bridging the gap between academic research and practical application by providing researchers with facilities to develop innovative ideas into marketable products, viable enterprises and solutions to societal challenges.
The Director of Monitoring and Evaluation at TETFund, Arc. Babatunde Olajide, disclosed this on Friday while representing the Fund’s Executive Secretary, Sonny Echono, at the closing ceremony of Cohort 34 of the Research for Impact (R4i) Initiative.
He said the Innovation Hubs would provide the infrastructure and enabling environment needed for researchers to apply the knowledge acquired through the programme, sustain collaborative research and develop solutions capable of contributing to national development.
The initiative forms part of TETFund’s broader strategy to reposition beneficiary institutions as centres of research and development (R&D), where academics can generate indigenous technologies, establish businesses and contribute to economic growth.
“Education remains a critical cornerstone of nation-building, while technology has taken centre stage globally in transforming lives, generating wealth and shaping nations,” Olajide said.
He stressed the importance of developing indigenous technologies and solutions to address Nigeria’s challenges rather than relying exclusively on innovations developed in other countries.
The two-week R4i programme, implemented in collaboration with Innov8 Technology Hub, equips researchers and academics from beneficiary institutions with practical innovation skills, research development techniques and expert mentorship to transform their ideas into products and enterprises.
According to Olajide, participants from previous cohorts have developed several prototypes, some of which have been patented, demonstrating the potential of the initiative to translate academic research into tangible outcomes.
He said the positive feedback received from participants and their institutions had encouraged TETFund to sustain and expand the programme.
As part of efforts to deepen its impact, the Fund has increased the number of participants nominated by each selected beneficiary institution from one to four.
The expanded arrangement is designed to bring together researchers from complementary scientific disciplines, encourage knowledge-sharing and promote teamwork in developing innovative solutions.
Olajide explained that the approach would also help build a pool of researchers capable of mentoring younger academics and sustaining a culture of collaborative research within tertiary institutions.
“The essence is to build a team of innovative researchers who will mentor upcoming scholars in the system, thereby promoting the entrenchment and sustainability of collaborative and innovative research practices in our institutions,” he said.
He added that the Innovation Hubs would enable researchers to continue developing their ideas after completing the intensive training programme, with particular emphasis on producing market-driven research outputs that could be commercialised.
Urging participants to maximise the opportunities provided by the programme, Olajide said the next phase would focus on moving their innovations towards commercialisation.
“The completion of this phase signifies the commencement of the next phase of working towards commercialisation of the products you have developed,” he said.
The Deputy General Manager of Innov8 Technology Hub, Deji Ige, described the partnership with TETFund as a significant step towards strengthening research, innovation and enterprise development in Nigeria’s tertiary education system.
He said the programme was helping academics move beyond theoretical research by providing opportunities to transform their knowledge and expertise into practical solutions capable of addressing local challenges.
According to him, the initiative also offers researchers a pathway to developing viable businesses and products that can contribute to national economic development.
“Research for Impact is more than an initiative. It is a lamp unto the path of Nigerians, especially members of the academia, who have long awaited an opportunity to begin the journey towards translating ideas into innovation, solutions and action,” he said.
Ige urged participants to embrace experimentation and remain persistent in their efforts to develop new technologies, noting that setbacks were 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 also encouraged the researchers to maintain the professional relationships established during the programme and apply their knowledge to developing indigenous technologies, creating businesses and generating wealth.
Similarly, the Director of Innov8 Technology Hub, Mr Edward Singhatey, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to strengthening its partnership with TETFund and advancing innovation in Nigeria.
Singhatey pledged that Innov8 would continue to deploy cutting-edge technologies and relevant content to support the programme and deliver on its mandate.
“We are passionate about innovation, and as long as you continue to trust and have confidence in us, we will keep searching for cutting-edge technology and the latest content to deliver on our mandate. We will forever remain a committed partner in innovation to TETFund,” he said.
The establishment of the Innovation Hubs is expected to provide a platform for sustained research collaboration and help tertiary institutions translate academic discoveries into practical solutions, commercial products and enterprises that support Nigeria’s development.
