A new wave of locally developed, market-ready innovations has been unveiled by Nigerian researchers under a groundbreaking initiative supported by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, TETFund.
Speaking at the Demo Day and closing ceremony of the Science Granting Councils Initiative, SGCI, in Abuja on Wednesday, TETFund Executive Secretary, Arc. Sonny Echono, described the event as a powerful testament to the country’s academic potential to deliver commercially viable solutions.
Echono said “What we are witnessing today goes beyond mere prototype exhibition. This is the outcome of intentional efforts to turn academic research into impactful innovations, capable of driving enterprise and national development.”
The SGCI is a multi-donor initiative operating across 17 African nations with the aim of strengthening the institutional capacity of science funding bodies.
TETFund said through this platform, it secured a $250,000 grant in 2023 for Nigerian researchers under its flagship Research for Impact, R4i, programme.
It added that the grant, funded by Canada’s International Development Research Centre, IDRC, and the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, FCDO, was awarded to four research teams made up of 18 scholars from Nigerian tertiary institutions.
The SGCI project was delivered in partnership with Kenya’s African Centre for Technology Studies, ACTS, and Nigeria’s Innov8 Hub, focusing on transforming promising academic research into viable products over a 12-month incubation cycle.
Echono said the prototypes presented reflect the success of the R4i initiative, which goes beyond funding research to ignite a broader national innovation movement.
He added that the showcased solutions address key challenges across critical sectors, including clean energy, agriculture, water sanitation, and sustainable infrastructure.
Among the standout innovations were AirVolt, a clean energy solution; I-GEL, a biotechnology product aimed at boosting food resilience; and Jolly Fryer, a refined technology for processing garri.
Echono emphasized that the demonstration marked a turning point in Nigeria’s innovation journey, driven by the synergy between academia, industry, and government—a collaboration model he described as the “Triple Helix Synergy.”
“TETFund will continue to invest in research that delivers practical solutions, creates employment, and positions Nigeria as a global innovation player,” he affirmed.
Representing the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, Mr. Francis Sani lauded TETFund for aligning innovation with national development objectives.
He highlighted ongoing government programmes like the 3 Million Technical Talent, 3MTT, initiative and the Nigeria Talent Initiative, which aim to build a digitally skilled, AI-ready workforce and create half a million jobs through digital outsourcing.
He added, “SGCI aligns with our national innovation blueprint, which is anchored on knowledge, infrastructure, policy, international partnerships, and trade.”
Earlier, the Project Coordinator at ACTS, Mr. Nicholas Odongo, praised the Nigerian teams’ output, saying the projects demonstrated how indigenous knowledge, when backed by partnerships and innovation, can drive sustainable development.
“These innovations are not just academic achievements—they’re a sign of what’s possible when we blend science with purpose and community impact,” Odongo stated.
Echoing this sentiment, Innov8 Hub’s Managing Director, Gregory Ibe, said the initiative represents a pivotal moment in advancing research governance and sustainable innovation in Africa.
“We are proud to be building one of Nigeria’s most vibrant innovation ecosystems—a space where researchers and entrepreneurs are turning ideas into practical solutions that meet local and global needs.
“From concept to execution, these efforts show that African challenges can be solved with African ingenuity,” Ibe said.
