Kuni Tyessi in Abuja
The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has urged Nigerian lecturers and researchers to transfer past publishing scholarly papers to growing sensible improvements that handle societal challenges and create financial alternatives.
The Executive Secretary, Sonny Echono, made the decision in Abuja on the closing ceremony of the thirty fifth cohort of the Research for Impact Initiative (R4i).
Echono stated the initiative, applied in partnership with Innov8 Hub, is a part of the fund’s technique to institutionalise analysis and growth in public tertiary establishments and strengthen the connection between tutorial analysis, business and authorities.
“We must empower our scholars to create local solutions for our societal problems. This is why a commitment to education is a commitment to our nation’s future, ensuring that our people are not just consumers of foreign technology, but innovators who can drive sustainable growth,” he stated.
He confused that Nigeria wanted to strengthen its capability to develop home-grown applied sciences somewhat than rely on improvements from different international locations.
He famous that technological development had develop into a significant driver of financial transformation, including that international locations searching for sustainable growth should put money into high quality schooling, analysis and innovation.
“At TETFund, we are refocusing and reinvigorating our intervention activities to drive the institutionalisation of Research and Development in public tertiary institutions, enhance research capacity, and support research-industry linkage, among others,” he stated.
He stated R4i is designed to reposition public tertiary establishments as drivers of a knowledge-based economic system by revolutionary practices and solution-driven analysis.
Echono recommended Innov8 Hub for offering technical experience and mentorship to collaborating lecturers, and urged the graduates to apply the data acquired to develop options for his or her establishments and communities.
He disclosed that some improvements from earlier editions of the programme have been showcased on the maiden TETFund National Research Fair and Exhibition in November 2024.
The second version will maintain from November 23 to 27, 2026 on the Abuja Trade and Convention Centre, Airport Road, giving researchers the chance to showcase their improvements, join with business gamers and discover partnerships for commercialising analysis outputs.
The Deputy General Manager of Innov8 Hub, Dr. Deji Ige, stated the initiative was designed to set up a tradition through which analysis and growth drive innovation, enterprise creation and nationwide growth.
“Innovation thrives in a culture where research and development are the primary languages of interaction. If we can learn, understand and revive this culture, the outcomes will include inventions, solutions, technological advancement, enterprise development, job creation, wealth generation, meaningful impact and societal development,” he stated.
Ige described the programme as a shift in direction of stronger collaboration amongst authorities, academia, business and society, including that analysis with out sensible impression might restrict the flexibility of tertiary establishments to contribute to technological development.
“Impact-driven research and development is what keeps it afloat and enables it to navigate safely. Without impact flowing from research and development, academia becomes an immobile vessel, bereft of progress, possibilities and the power to navigate,” he stated.
