By Felix Khanoba
The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has urged Nigerian academics and researchers to focus on developing practical, marketable innovations from their research rather than concentrating solely on publishing scholarly papers.
The Fund said translating academic research into solutions to real-world problems would strengthen local technological capacity, create employment opportunities and contribute to Nigeria’s economic development.
TETFund Executive Secretary, Dr Sonny Echono, made the call in Abuja on Friday through the Assistant Director, Research and Development, Dr Hadiza Ismail, at the closing ceremony of the 35th cohort of the Research for Impact Initiative (R4i).
Echono said the initiative, implemented in partnership with Innov8 Hub, was part of the Fund’s efforts to institutionalise research and development in public tertiary institutions and strengthen collaboration among academia, industry and government.
He said, “We must empower our scholars to create local solutions for our societal problems. This is why a commitment to education is a commitment to our nation’s future, ensuring that our people are not just consumers of foreign technology, but innovators who can drive sustainable growth.”
The TETFund chief stressed the need for Nigeria to build its capacity to develop home-grown technologies instead of relying heavily on innovations from other countries.
He noted that technological advancement had become a major driver of economic transformation, adding that sustainable development required sustained investment in quality education, research and innovation.
“At TETFund, we are refocusing and reinvigorating our intervention activities to drive the institutionalisation of Research and Development in public tertiary institutions, enhance research capacity, and support research-industry linkage, among others,” he said.
According to Echono, the R4i programme seeks to reposition public tertiary institutions as key contributors to a knowledge-based economy by promoting innovative practices and research that produces practical solutions.
He commended Innov8 Hub for providing technical expertise and mentorship to participating academics, urging the graduates to apply the skills acquired during the intensive training to address challenges in their institutions and communities.
Echono disclosed that innovations developed by participants in previous editions of the programme were showcased at the maiden TETFund National Research Fair and Exhibition in November 2024.
He said the second edition of the fair would take place from November 23 to 27, 2026, at the Abuja Trade and Convention Centre, Airport Road.
According to him, the event would provide researchers with opportunities to exhibit their innovations, engage industry stakeholders and explore partnerships to commercialise their research outputs.
The Deputy General Manager of Innov8 Hub, Dr Deji Ige, said the initiative was designed to promote a culture in which research and development drive innovation, enterprise creation and national development.
He said the programme was encouraging academics to reconsider the purpose of research by moving beyond publications to developing solutions capable of benefiting industry and society.
“Innovation thrives in a culture where research and development are the primary languages of interaction. If we can learn, understand and revive this culture, the outcomes will include inventions, solutions, technological advancement, enterprise development, job creation, wealth generation, meaningful impact and societal development,” he said.
Ige described the programme as an effort to deepen collaboration among government, academia, industry and society, noting that research without practical applications could limit the contribution of tertiary institutions to technological progress.
“Impact-driven research and development is what keeps it afloat and enables it to navigate safely. Without impact flowing from research and development, academia becomes an immobile vessel, bereft of progress, possibilities and the power to navigate,” Ige said.
He added that the partnership between TETFund and Innov8 Hub was helping to bridge the gap between academic knowledge and practical innovation.
One of the participants, Farida Adamu Mohammed of the Federal Polytechnic, Damaturu, said the programme had changed her approach to research by shifting her attention from academic publications to solutions with commercial potential.
Mohammed said the 10-day intensive training equipped her with skills in identifying real-world problems, selecting viable ideas, understanding users’ needs and developing prototypes.
She added that participants were trained in the responsible use of artificial intelligence, the Business Model Canvas, user co-creation and effective presentation of ideas to prospective funders and collaborators.
“Indeed, R4i has completely changed my perspective on research, shifting my focus from research for publication to research that creates impact, drives commercialisation, and generates profit,” she said.
Mohammed expressed optimism that the knowledge acquired would help her develop research outputs with practical value and greater prospects for commercialisation.
Similarly, Engr. Austine Omoraka of the Federal Polytechnic, Orogun, Delta State, said the programme had strengthened his resolve to apply engineering research to practical challenges in Nigeria, particularly in his state.
He said the combination of research, prototyping, market validation and business planning had provided him with a more structured approach to developing ideas into potentially marketable solutions.
“The training has encouraged me to view research not merely as an academic exercise but as a pathway to innovation and societal transformation,” he said.
Omoraka added that applying the knowledge gained could support the development of affordable local technologies, promote entrepreneurship, create jobs and contribute to sustainable economic growth.
Participants in the 35th cohort were organised into six teams, which presented innovations addressing different practical challenges.
Team One developed Bake Check, a web-based application designed to screen bread for bromate by analysing colour changes in a test solution through image capture and calibration.
Team Two presented EcoCeramix, a bio-absorbent clay geo-filter cartridge made from locally calcined clay, silica and rice husk ash. The product is designed to fit standard household water-storage buckets.
Other innovations unveiled by the participants included Ecosort, a hardware-based device designed to scan waste piles at dump sites and recycling facilities; Agrivault, a cooperative-operated storage facility; a real-time delivery-tracking application; and a solar-powered mosquito-responsive device.
The R4i initiative was established by TETFund and Innov8 Hub in 2022 to help academics and researchers translate research ideas into practical innovations, prototypes and potentially commercial products.
The programme provides hands-on training in problem identification, idea development, testing, prototyping, business planning, pitching, fundraising and business incubation.
It also promotes collaboration among government, academia and industry, while incorporating society as a stakeholder in the innovation process.
The initiative complements TETFund’s broader research and development interventions aimed at strengthening research capacity and advancing innovations with commercial potential.
Echono urged the latest cohort to build on the experience gained during the programme, reaffirming the Fund’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s research ecosystem and promoting sustainable national development.
