The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has begun establishing innovation hubs in 45 beneficiary tertiary institutions across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones to strengthen research, promote technological advancement and facilitate the commercialisation of locally developed products.
The initiative aims to turn tertiary institutions into research and development centres, enabling academics to develop indigenous solutions to societal challenges, create businesses, and contribute to national economic growth.
The Director of Monitoring and Evaluation, Arc. 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.
The two-week programme equips participants with practical innovation skills, research development techniques and expert mentorship to help them transform ideas into viable products, solutions and enterprises.
Olajide said the innovation hubs would provide facilities for researchers to apply the knowledge acquired during the training, sustain research collaborations and develop innovative ideas into practical solutions.
He explained that TETFund’s investment in research was based on the recognition that impactful innovation was essential to building a knowledge-driven economy and achieving sustainable national development.
“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 emphasised the importance of developing indigenous technologies to address Nigeria’s challenges rather than relying solely on innovations from other countries.
The R4i Initiative, implemented in partnership with Innov8 Technology Hub, seeks to equip researchers and academics in beneficiary institutions with the practical expertise required to produce research that addresses pressing societal needs.
Olajide disclosed that participants in previous cohorts had developed several prototypes, some of which had been patented, demonstrating the programme’s capacity to translate academic research into tangible outcomes.
He said positive feedback from participants and their institutions had encouraged the Fund to sustain and expand the initiative.
As part of the expansion, TETFund has increased the number of participants nominated by each selected institution from one to four.
According to him, the arrangement would bring together researchers from complementary scientific disciplines, encourage teamwork and knowledge-sharing, and develop a pool of academics capable of mentoring emerging scholars.
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He added that the approach would promote collaborative research and encourage the development of market-oriented innovations with commercial potential.
“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.
Olajide noted that the establishment of the hubs in 45 institutions would create a more supportive environment for researchers to advance their ideas beyond the intensive training period.
He urged participants to apply the knowledge gained during the programme to develop solutions that would benefit their institutions and communities.
“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 an important step towards advancing research, innovation and enterprise development in Nigeria’s tertiary education sector.
He said the initiative was helping academics move beyond theoretical research by providing opportunities to translate ideas into practical solutions to local challenges.
According to Ige, the programme enables researchers to explore how their expertise can be transformed into innovative products, viable businesses and solutions that contribute to national 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 encouraged participants to experiment with new ideas 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 the researchers to maintain the relationships established during the programme and use their expertise to develop indigenous technologies, establish businesses and generate wealth.
The Director of Innov8 Technology Hub, Edward Singhatey, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to promoting innovation and strengthening its partnership with TETFund.
