The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has urged Nigerian academics and researchers to move beyond publishing scholarly papers and develop practical innovations that address societal challenges, create jobs and generate wealth.
The Executive Secretary of TETFund, Dr Sonny Echono, made the call in Abuja on Friday through the Assistant Director of Research and Development, Dr Hadiza Ismail, at the closing ceremony of the 35th cohort of the Research for Impact Initiative (R4i).
Echono said the initiative, implemented in partnership with Innov8 Hub, was part of the Fund’s strategy to institutionalise research and development in public tertiary institutions and strengthen collaboration among academia, industry and government.
He stressed the need for Nigeria to develop home grown technologies and reduce its dependence on foreign innovations, noting that technological advancement had become a major driver of economic transformation.
“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 said.
The TETFund boss said the Fund was refocusing its intervention programmes to strengthen research capacity, promote innovation and improve links between research institutions and industry.
“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,” Echono said.
He explained that the Research for Impact Initiative was designed to reposition public tertiary institutions as drivers of a knowledge based economy by encouraging solution driven research and practical innovation.
Echono commended Innov8 Hub for providing technical expertise and mentorship to participating academics, urging the graduates to apply the knowledge acquired during the intensive training to develop solutions for their institutions and communities.
He disclosed that some innovations produced through previous editions of the programme were showcased at the maiden TETFund National Research Fair and Exhibition in November 2024.
According to him, the second edition of the fair would hold from November 23 to 27, 2026, at the Abuja Trade and Convention Centre, Airport Road, offering researchers opportunities to showcase their innovations, connect with industry players and explore partnerships for commercialising their research outputs.
The Deputy General Manager of Innov8 Hub, Dr Deji Ige, said the initiative was designed to establish a culture in which research and development drive innovation, enterprise creation and national development.
Ige said the programme was changing how academics approached research by encouraging them to develop practical solutions with potential benefits for industry and society.
“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 said.
He described the initiative as a shift towards stronger collaboration among government, academia, industry and society, warning that research without practical impact could limit the contribution of tertiary institutions to technological advancement.
“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,” Ige said.
One of the participants, Farida Adamu Mohammed of the Federal Polytechnic, Damaturu, said the programme had transformed her understanding of research by shifting her focus from academic publications to solutions that could be commercialised.
Mohammed said the 10 day intensive training equipped participants with skills in identifying real world problems, selecting viable ideas, understanding users’ needs and developing prototypes.
She added that the training covered the responsible use of artificial intelligence, the Business Model Canvas, user co creation and effective communication for pitching ideas to potential funders and collaborators.
“Indeed, R4i has completely changed my perspective on research, shifting my focus from research for publication to research that creates impact, drives commercialisation, and generates profit,” she said.
She expressed optimism that the knowledge gained would help her develop research outputs with practical value and greater prospects for commercialisation.
Similarly, Engr. Austine Omoraka of the Federal Polytechnic, Orogun, Delta State, said the programme had strengthened his commitment to applying engineering research to practical challenges, particularly in his state.
Omoraka said the combination of research, prototyping, market validation and business planning had provided him with a more structured approach to developing ideas into potentially marketable solutions.
“The training has encouraged me to view research not merely as an academic exercise but as a pathway to innovation and societal transformation,” he said.
He added that applying the knowledge gained could support the development of affordable local technologies, entrepreneurship, employment opportunities and sustainable economic growth.
The 35th cohort presented six teams of innovations addressing challenges in food safety, water purification, waste management, agriculture, logistics and public health.
Team One unveiled Bake Check, a web-based application designed to screen bread for bromate by analysing colour changes in a test solution through image capture and calibration.
Team Two developed EcoCeramix, a bio-absorbent clay geofilter cartridge made from locally calcined clay, silica and rice husk ash. The device is designed to fit standard household water storage buckets.
Other innovations included EcoSort, a hardware-based device designed to scan piles of waste at dump sites and recycling facilities; AgriVault, a cooperative-operated storage facility; a real-time delivery tracking application; and a solar powered mosquito responsive device.
The Research for Impact Initiative was established by TETFund and Innov8 Hub in 2022 to help academics translate research ideas into practical innovations, prototypes and potentially commercial products.
The programme provides hands on training in problem identification, ideation, prototyping, testing, business planning, pitching and fundraising, with the aim of bridging the gap between academic research and real world applications.
Its approach promotes collaboration among government, academia, industry and society to improve the prospects of research adoption and commercialisation.
Echono urged the graduates to build on the experience gained during the programme, reaffirming TETFund’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s research ecosystem and supporting innovations capable of addressing local challenges and contributing to sustainable national development.
