UNDP, TETFund seal landmark MoU to drive innovation, digital transformation in tertiary institutions
By Uji A.Iliyasu, Abuja
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) have signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at positioning Nigeria’s higher education system at the centre of Africa’s emerging innovation and digital economy.
Speaking at the ceremony in Abuja, UNDP Resident Representative in Nigeria, Mrs. Elsie Attafuah, described the partnership as a “defining moment” in the country’s push toward an innovation-driven, knowledge-powered economy. She said the MoU followed months of joint consultations and led to the National Innovation and Digital Transformation Partnership Programme designed to reposition universities and polytechnics as engines of inclusive growth, creativity and regional competitiveness.
Attafuah highlighted early successes of the collaboration, including the Emerging Mining Tech Unipod at Nasarawa State University, Keffi, and the Artificial Intelligence Unipod at the University of Lagos—state-of-the-art hubs advancing mineral value addition, clean energy, geoscience innovation, AI applications and next-generation skills. These hubs, she said, are part of an initial cohort of eight university innovation ports and one polytechnic port ready for activation across states including Borno, Benue, Abia and Akwa Ibom.
She described the Unipods as “purpose-built innovation engines” that will accelerate research commercialisation, link innovators to industry, and transform campuses into innovation ecosystems capable of generating enterprises, jobs and national competitiveness. She added that the partnership’s strength lies in TETFund’s vast national network and UNDP’s continental innovation platforms such as the Timbuktu Pan-African Innovation Initiative.
Attafuah commended TETFund for strengthening Nigeria’s tertiary education landscape through investments in infrastructure, research and human capacity.
TETFund Executive Secretary, Arc. Sonny Echono, said the agreement reflects the Fund’s commitment to overhaul curriculum delivery and equip young Nigerians with skills needed for the future global economy. With global demographic trends placing Nigeria as a major contributor to the future workforce, Echono said the country must invest in preparing its youth for emerging opportunities.
He disclosed that TETFund has tripled its allocation for innovation hubs under the 2025 intervention cycle and is integrating the facilities into academic programmes and community development needs. He expressed confidence that UNDP’s global expertise would help fast-track the growth and impact of innovation hubs nationwide.
In a joint statement, UNDP’s Christabel Chanda Ginsberg and TETFund’s Abdulmumin Oniyangi reaffirmed commitment to strengthening institutions, nurturing innovators and transforming ideas into enterprises that generate jobs and prosperity.
Under the MoU, both institutions will implement the National Innovation and Digital Transformation Partnership Programme focusing on institutionalising innovation, human capital development, research commercialisation, sustainable financing and effective governance.
Targets include activating eight University Innovation Pods and one Polytechnic Pod, upgrading nine additional TETFund-funded facilities, establishing 15–20 Technology Transfer Offices, training over 500,000 students and researchers, supporting up to 2,000 startups and commercialising 5,000 research outputs.