TETFund establishes innovation hubs in 45 tertiary institutions to commercialize researches
By Uji A Iliyasu, Abuja
The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has commenced the establishment of Innovation Hubs in 45 beneficiary tertiary institutions across Nigeria to strengthen research, promote technological innovation and accelerate the commercialisation of locally developed products.
The initiative is part of the Fund’s efforts to transform tertiary institutions into research and development centres capable of producing home-grown solutions to societal challenges, creating enterprises and driving economic growth.
The Director of Monitoring and Evaluation, Arc. Babatunde Olajide, who represented TETFund Executive Secretary, Sonny Echono, disclosed this on Friday at the closing ceremony of Cohort 34 of the Research for Impact (R4i) Initiative.
The two-week programme, implemented in partnership with Innov8 Technology Hub, equips researchers and academics with practical skills, access to innovation facilities and expert mentorship to translate research ideas into marketable products and viable enterprises.
Olajide said the new Innovation Hubs would provide researchers with the facilities to apply the knowledge acquired during the training, sustain collaborative research and develop innovative ideas into practical solutions.
He explained that TETFund’s investment in research was driven by the need to build a knowledge-based economy through high-impact innovation and 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,” he said.
Olajide emphasised the importance of developing indigenous technologies to address Nigeria’s challenges rather than relying solely on innovations from other countries.
He disclosed that participants in previous cohorts had developed several prototypes, some of which had been patented, demonstrating the programme’s potential to translate academic research into tangible outcomes.
He said positive feedback from participants and their institutions has 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 beneficiary institution from one to four.
The adjustment is intended to bring together researchers from complementary scientific disciplines, encourage knowledge-sharing and strengthen teamwork.
Olajide said the approach would also create a pool of innovative academics capable of mentoring emerging researchers and promoting a sustainable culture of collaborative research within tertiary institutions.
He added that the programme would prioritise market-driven research outputs with the potential for commercialisation.
“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.
Urging participants to maximise the opportunities provided by the training, Olajide said the completion of the programme marked the beginning of efforts to commercialise the products they had developed.
“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 initiative was helping academics move beyond theoretical research to develop practical solutions capable of addressing local challenges and contributing 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,” Ige said.
He encouraged participants to embrace experimentation and remain undeterred by setbacks, noting that failure was often an essential 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.
Ige urged the researchers to maintain the professional relationships established during the programme and apply their knowledge to developing indigenous technologies, creating businesses and generating wealth.
Also speaking, the Director of Innov8 Technology Hub, Edward Singhatey, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to its partnership with TETFund, pledging to deploy cutting-edge technologies and relevant content to advance innovation in the country.
“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.