The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has pledged support for the Defence Research and Development Bureau (RDB) in advancing its research and development plans.
Speaking while receiving the Director General of RDB, Rear Admiral K. J. Odubanjo, and his team in Abuja, the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Arch. Sonny Echono, said the country must harness all available resources to tackle challenges ranging from insecurity to unemployment and dependence on foreign goods and services.

He noted that historically, the military has played a significant role in technological and scientific development globally, citing innovations such as the internet, GPS and drone technology.
Echono disclosed that TETFund recently created a new thematic area dedicated to military and defence research under its National Research Fund Granting Committee to address existing gaps.

Earlier, Odubanjo said the goal of the agency under his leadership was to build on existing achievements through collaboration, stressing that no institution could operate in isolation.
He cited examples of defence-related innovations developed through RDB-supported research, including airboats and night-vision goggles, some of which have attracted interest from government agencies.
Odubanjo identified inadequate funding as a major challenge and expressed optimism that support from TETFund would strengthen Nigeria’s research capacity and enhance national security.