TETFund Cites Strengthening Research and Innovation in Nigeria as the Reasons for Planning to Establish 18 Innovation Hubs in Tertiary Institutions in Nigeria

The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has announced plans to establish 18 innovation hubs across tertiary institutions in Nigeria by 2025 as part of efforts to strengthen research and technological advancement in the country. This initiative aligns with the Fund’s commitment to fostering a culture of innovation, entrepreneurship, and problem-solving among Nigerian academics and researchers.

The Executive Secretary of TETFund, Sonny Echono, made this known at the closing ceremony of the 30th Cohort of the Research for Impact (R4i) initiative, held at Innov8 Technology Hub in Abuja. He emphasized that education and research play a crucial role in nation-building and sustainable development, highlighting the necessity of equipping institutions with facilities that encourage innovation and knowledge application.

The R4i programme, in collaboration with Innov8 Technology Hub, aims to enhance the capacity of researchers and academics to conduct impactful, solution-driven research that addresses societal challenges. Echono reaffirmed the Fund’s commitment to institutionalizing Research and Development (R&D) in Nigerian universities while also strengthening research-industry linkages to drive economic growth.

He stated that the establishment of these innovation hubs and entrepreneurship centres would be implemented in phases, allowing beneficiaries to apply and mentor others in their innovative work. The phased approach began in 2023 with 12 institutions, followed by 18 in 2024, and another 18 institutions set to benefit in 2025. These hubs will provide an environment conducive to research, fostering practical innovations that can be commercialized for national development.

Echono acknowledged the contributions of previous R4i cohorts, noting that some of their innovations were exhibited at the maiden edition of the TETFund National Research Fair/Exhibition held in November 2024 in Abuja. He encouraged the latest cohort of participants to leverage their training to produce impactful innovations within their institutions and communities.

The Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), Professor Idris M. Bugaje, also spoke at the event, stressing the importance of patenting innovations and registering trade names to protect intellectual property. He urged Nigerian polytechnics to take the lead in practical innovation by developing products and technologies that can enhance the country’s technological standing. Bugaje criticized Nigeria’s heavy dependence on foreign products and called for the development of indigenous technologies, citing examples from Rwanda and Uganda.

Additionally, the Director at Innov8 Hub, Edward Singhatey, encouraged participants to share their newly acquired knowledge with their students to promote innovation. He emphasized the need for commercialization of research and urged researchers to leverage available tools to transform their ideas into marketable solutions.

With the establishment of these innovation hubs, TETFund is taking a significant step toward bridging the gap between research and industry in Nigeria, fostering a culture of innovation that will contribute to national development.