FG Plans to Launch 18 New Innovation Hubs in Nigerian Universities

The Federal Government plans, via the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), to set up 18 new Innovation Centers in various higher educational institutions throughout 2025 with the aim of bolstering Nigeria’s research and innovation capabilities.

In keeping with its commitment to enhance innovation and skill acquisition, the fund has set aside N70 billion to bolster Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programs.

The Executive Secretary of TETFund, Arc Sonny Echono, addressing the recent developments mentioned that the primary emphasis from this year onward will be on TVET and STEM fields, which encompass Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. He further stated that the government’s strategy involves phased construction of 72 innovation centers nationwide.

He stated: "A significant amount of capital is being directed towards the technology industry across various levels—from entry-level positions to mid-tier roles and even executive suites. This allows us to develop a skilled labor force capable of fulfilling current demands as well as producing an excess that can be deployed internationally. These individuals will carry knowledge acquired abroad back home, contributing positively to our economic growth."

At the conclusion of the 30th cohort’s graduation event for the Research for Impact (R4i) program at Innov8 Technology Hub in Abuja, Echono affirmed that TETFund is dedicated to promoting a culture centered around solution-driven research, entrepreneurial endeavors, and technological progress.

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He highlighted the crucial role of education and research in constructing nations and fostering sustainable growth.

The R4i program, working alongside Innov8 Technology Hub, seeks to boost the capabilities of scholars and researchers so they can carry out pioneering, problem-solving studies that tackle social issues.

He mentioned that the Fund was dedicated to aiding the establishment of Research & Development (R&D) within Nigerian universities and fostering connections between research institutions and industries.

He stated that TETFund is setting up Innovation Hubs and Entrepreneurship Centers at various educational institutions incrementally. This step-by-step method, as he explained, enables ongoing participation and peer mentorship among innovators.

The Executive Secretary highlighted the crucial part played by research in enhancing the country’s overall living standards and expressed gratitude to Innov8 for collaborating in reshaping the landscape of innovation. Attendees were motivated to utilize their newly acquired skills to develop significant advancements within their respective organizations and localities.

I'm delighted to acknowledge that members from earlier batches of this program demonstrated remarkable dedication throughout the training. This passion allowed them to develop innovative solutions addressing different aspects of social requirements.

Allow me to recognize that several innovations from earlier versions of this program were showcased during the inaugural TETFund National Research Fair/Exhibition, which took place in November 2024 in Abuja. I have no doubt that the participants from this current group, who we have come together to honor, will present equally impressive innovative work.

In keeping with the Fund’s dedication to fostering an environment conducive to problem-solving research, TETFund is supporting the creation of Innovation Hubs and Entrepreneurship Centers within our partner institutions in stages. In the initial stage during the 2023 initiative period, twelve (12) recipient institutions will be involved. This will be followed by the second stage in 2024, which includes eighteen (18) more institutions. Finally, the third stage slated for 2025 will also encompass eighteen (18) additional institutions.

"These facilities will allow program participants to keep honing their skills acquired at this innovation center and also guide others," Echono said additionally.

Professor Idris Bugaje, who also spoke at the event and serves as the Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), highlighted the significance of patenting innovations and registering trademarks for safeguarding intellectual property. He urged Nigerian polytechnics to take the initiative in hands-on innovation by leveraging scientific concepts to develop goods and technologies capable of advancing Nigeria’s position in technology.

Bugaje condemned the nation's dependence on imported goods like automobiles and mobile devices, emphasizing the importance of developing domestic production capabilities. Drawing parallels with initiatives in Rwanda and Uganda, he called upon polytechnic institutions to promote collaboration and actively work towards showcasing Nigeria’s potential for ingenuity, thereby bolstering the economic landscape.

I am quite certain that numerous innovations and concepts you've showcased possess potential for patenting since this is the crucial stage in the process of innovation. It is essential to secure patents for your ideas, findings, and creations. Additionally, regarding any brand names you might have encountered in various programs, registering those trade names would also be necessary.

The challenge lies with us in Nigeria today. The country ranks highly in numerous aspects such as population size, gross domestic product, and various other metrics, even topping the list in Africa. However, currently, Nigeria lacks a distinct technological innovation that could be called purely Nigerian. Instead, we rely on Samsung devices from South Korea, vehicles manufactured across Asia and Europe. It falls upon each of us to guide Nigeria away from this current state of stagnation. This training holds significant importance since it familiarizes participants with collaborative efforts. As highlighted during the presentation, this exposure to teamwork is crucial.

Mr. Edward Singhatey, Director at Innov8 Hub, challenged the participants to bring the tools they obtained back to their respective organizations and distribute them among their students to foster innovation. "It’s crucial to turn our research into commercially viable products," he emphasized, urging them to utilize the resources available to them.

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