The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has announced plans to establish 18 new Innovation Hubs across tertiary institutions in 2025 to strengthen Nigeria’s research and innovation.

The Executive Secretary of TETFund, Arch. Sonny Echono, disclosed this at the closing ceremony of the 30th Cohort of the Research for Impact (R4i) initiative, held at Innov8 Technology Hub in Abuja on Friday.

He said the initiative is part of the Fund’s commitment to fostering a culture of problem-solving research, entrepreneurship, and technological advancement.

Echono emphasized the importance of education and research in nation-building and sustainable development.

The R4i programme, in collaboration with Innov8 Technology Hub, aims to enhance the capacity of researchers and academics to conduct innovative, solution-driven research that addresses societal challenges.

He stated that the Fund is committed to supporting the institutionalization of Research & Development (R&D) in Nigerian universities and promoting Research-Industry linkages.

According to him, TETFund is also establishing Innovation Hubs and Entrepreneurship Centres across institutions in phases. This phased approach, he said will allow participants to continue applying and mentoring others in their innovative work.

The Executive Secretary also emphasized the vital role of research in improving the national quality of life and thanked Innov8 for its partnership in transforming the innovation ecosystem. Participants were encouraged to apply their training to create impactful innovations in their institutions and communities.

“I am pleased to admit that the participants of previous cohorts of this initiative impressed us with their commitment during the training, which enabled them to come up with innovations in various areas of societal needs.

“Let me also acknowledge that some of the innovations from previous editions of this programme were exhibited at the maiden edition of the TETFund National Research Fair/Exhibition held in November 2024 in Abuja. I am sure that the participants from this particular cohort, whom we are gathered here to celebrate, will not be different as they showcase their innovative outputs.

“In line with the commitment of the Fund to provide the enabling environment for problem-solving research, TETFund is funding the establishment of Innovation Hubs and Entrepreneurship Centres in our beneficiary institutions in phases. The first phase will involve twelve (12) beneficiary institutions under the 2023 intervention year, the second phase will involve eighteen (18) institutions under the 2024 intervention, and the third phase will involve another eighteen (18) institutions under the 2025 intervention.

“These facilities will enable the participants of this programme to continue practicing what they have learned at this innovation hub and mentor others,” Echono added.

Also speaking, Professor Idris M. Bugaje, the Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), emphasized the importance of patenting innovations and registering trade names for intellectual property protection. He encouraged Nigerian polytechnics to lead the way in practical innovation by applying scientific principles to create products and technologies that can elevate Nigeria’s technological standing.

Bugaje criticized the country’s reliance on foreign products, such as cars and phones, and stressed the need for local manufacturing. He referenced examples from Rwanda and Uganda, urging polytechnics to foster teamwork and take proactive steps to assert Nigeria’s capacity for innovation, thus contributing to the national economy.

“I am very sure many of these innovations and ideas you have exhibited could be patented, because that’s the most important step in innovation. You must patent your ideas, discoveries, and innovations. Besides patents, if there are any names, I’ve seen many names mentioned in some of the programmes, you also need to do trade name registration.

“The challenge is on us today in Nigeria. Nigeria is among the top nations in terms of population, GDP, and many other criteria, including being number one in Africa. But today, Nigeria doesn’t have a technology that we can call Nigerian. We are holding Samsung products from Korea. We are driving cars made in Asia and Europe. You should lead Nigeria out of our present disabled condition. This training is very important because it’s exposing you to teamwork. This is what happens throughout the presentation,” he added.

Mr. Edward Singhatey, Director at Innov8 Hub, charged participants to take the tools they acquired back to their institutions and share them with their students to ensure they promote innovation. “We need to commercialize our research,” he urged, encouraging them to use the tools at their disposal.