The Tertiary Education Trust Fund has urged Nigerian academics and researchers to move beyond publishing scholarly papers to developing practical innovations that address societal challenges and create economic opportunities.
The Executive Secretary of TETFund, Dr Sonny Echono, made the call 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 in Abuja.
Echono said the initiative, implemented in partnership with Innov8 Technology Hub, was part of the fund’s strategy to institutionalise research and development in public tertiary institutions and strengthen collaboration between academia, industry and government.
He said, “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.”
The executive secretary said Nigeria needed to strengthen its capacity to develop home-grown technologies rather than continually depend on innovations from other countries.
He noted that technological advancement had become a major driver of economic transformation, adding that countries seeking sustainable development must invest in quality education, research 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 said.
According to him, the Research for Impact Initiative was designed to reposition public tertiary institutions as drivers of a knowledge-based economy through innovative practices and solution-driven research.
Echono commended Innov8 Technology Hub for providing technical expertise and mentorship to participating academics, urging them to apply the knowledge acquired during the intensive training to develop solutions for their institutions and communities.
He disclosed that some innovations from previous editions of the programme were showcased at the maiden TETFund National Research Fair and Exhibition in November 2024.
He said the second edition of the fair would hold from November 23 to 27, 2026, at the Abuja Trade and Convention Centre, Airport Road, providing opportunities for researchers to showcase their innovations, connect with industry players and explore partnerships to commercialise 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 encouraging academics to rethink the purpose of research by developing 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 programme as a shift towards stronger collaboration among government, academia, industry and society, adding 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.
He added that the partnership between TETFund and Innov8 Hub was helping to strengthen the connection between academic knowledge and practical innovation.
One of the participants, Farida Adamu Mohammed of the Federal Polytechnic, Damaturu, said the programme had changed 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 her with skills in identifying real-world problems, selecting viable ideas, understanding users’ needs and developing prototypes.
She said the training also exposed participants to 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.
Mohammed added that the lessons would help her develop research outputs that deliver practical value and have greater prospects for commercialisation.
Similarly, an engineer, Austine Omoraka, of the Federal Polytechnic, Orogun, Delta State, said the programme had strengthened his commitment to applying engineering research to practical challenges in Nigeria, particularly in his state.
Omoraka said the combination of research, prototyping, market validation and business planning had given him 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 contribute to the development of affordable local technologies, entrepreneurship, employment opportunities and sustainable economic growth.
Members of Cohort 35 were divided into six teams to develop and present their innovations.
Team One unveiled Bake Check, a web-based application designed to screen bread for bromate by analysing colour changes in a test solution using 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 cartridge 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 and researchers translate research ideas into practical innovations, prototypes and potentially commercial products.
The programme provides hands-on training in problem identification, ideation, testing, prototyping, business planning and pitching, with the aim of helping researchers develop solutions that can be adopted and commercialised.