The Tertiary Education Trust Fund, TETFund, has challenged Nigerian academics and researchers to move beyond scholarly publications and develop practical innovations capable of addressing societal challenges, creating jobs and generating economic opportunities.
Executive Secretary of TETFund, Dr Sonny Echono, made the call on Friday in Abuja at the closing ceremony of the 35th cohort of the Research for Impact Initiative, R4i, where he was represented by the Assistant Director, Research and Development, Dr Hadiza Ismail.
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 between academia, industry and government.
He said Nigeria must empower its scholars to develop home-grown solutions to the country’s challenges rather than remain dependent on technologies developed elsewhere.
“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 chief said technological advancement had become a critical driver of economic transformation, stressing that countries seeking sustainable development must invest in quality education, research and innovation.
He said the Fund was refocusing its interventions to strengthen research capacity, promote research-industry linkages and support the integration of research and development into the operations of public tertiary institutions.
“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-oriented research.
Echono commended Innov8 Hub for providing technical expertise and mentorship to participating academics, urging the graduates to apply the skills acquired during the intensive training to develop solutions for their institutions and communities.
He disclosed that some innovations developed through previous editions of the programme were showcased at the maiden TETFund National Research Fair and Exhibition in November 2024.
The second edition of the fair, he said, would hold from November 23 to 27, 2026, at the Abuja Trade and Convention Centre, Airport Road, offering researchers opportunities to showcase their innovations, engage 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 helping academics rethink the purpose of 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 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.
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 with commercial potential.
Mohammed said the 10-day intensive training equipped her with skills in identifying real-world problems, assessing viable ideas, understanding users’ needs and developing prototypes.
She said participants were also exposed to the responsible use of artificial intelligence, the Business Model Canvas, user co-creation and effective communication techniques 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 knowledge acquired 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 in Nigeria, 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 contribute to affordable local technologies, entrepreneurship, employment opportunities and sustainable economic growth.
The 35th cohort was divided into six teams, which presented innovations addressing challenges in food safety, water purification, waste management, agriculture and other areas.
Team One unveiled BakeCheck, 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 cartridge is designed to fit standard household water-storage buckets.
Other innovations included EcoSort, a hardware-based device designed to scan waste at dumpsites 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, established in 2022 by TETFund and Innov8 Hub, seeks to bridge the gap between academic research and its practical application by helping researchers transform ideas into innovations, prototypes and potentially commercial products.
The programme provides hands-on training in problem identification, ideation, testing, prototyping, business planning, pitching and fundraising, with participants encouraged to develop solutions based on the needs of potential users.
It also promotes collaboration among government, academia, industry and society to improve the adoption and commercialisation of research outputs.
TETFund has previously reported that 18 researchers trained through the initiative secured a collective $250,000 grant under the Science Granting Councils Initiative in 2024 to advance four innovations towards commercial viability.
The initiative complements the Fund’s broader research and development interventions, including the TETFund Alliance for Innovative Research, which supports the advancement of research outputs and the development of prototypes with commercial potential.
Echono urged the latest graduates to build on the experience gained during the programme, reaffirming TETFund’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s research ecosystem and promoting sustainable national development.
