Nigerian academics have been told to turn their research into products that can solve real problems and create jobs, instead of just publishing papers.
The charge was given by the Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) Dr Sonny Echono, in Abuja.
He spoke through the Assistant Director, Research and Development, Dr. Hadiza Ismail, at the closing of the 35th cohort of the Research for Impact Initiative, R4i.
Echono said the programme, run with Innov8 Hub, is part of TETFund’s plan to institutionalise Research and Development in public tertiary institutions and connect research with industry and government.
”We must empower our scholars to create local solutions for our societal problems,” he said, stressing that Nigeria must produce its own technologies rather than depend on foreign ones.
He said TETFund is refocusing its interventions to build research capacity and promote research-industry linkage, to position tertiary institutions as drivers of a knowledge-based economy.
Echono commended Innov8 Hub for its technical support and mentorship, and urged the graduates to use the knowledge to develop solutions for their communities.
He said innovations from earlier cohorts were showcased at the maiden TETFund National Research Fair in November 2024, and announced that the second edition will hold from November 23 to 27, 2026 at the Abuja Trade and Convention Centre.
The Deputy General Manager of Innov8 Hub, Dr Deji Ige, said the initiative is building a culture where R&D drives innovation, enterprise and national development.
He said research without practical impact limits the ability of universities and polytechnics to contribute to technological growth, adding that the collaboration promotes the triple helix model of government, academia and industry.
A participant, Farida Adamu Mohammed of Federal Polytechnic, Damaturu, said the 10-day training changed her mindset from research for publication to research for impact and commercialisation.
She said they were trained on identifying real-world problems, user needs, prototyping, responsible use of AI, Business Model Canvas, and how to pitch ideas to funders.
Another participant, Engr Austine Omoraka, of Federal Polytechnic, Orogun, Delta State, said the training taught him how to turn engineering research into marketable solutions that can promote local technology and job creation.
The six teams in Cohort 35 unveiled innovations, including: Bake Check, a web app that detects bromate in bread through colour analysis; EcoCeramix, a low-cost clay water filter made from local materials; and Ecosort, a device for scanning waste at dumpsites.
Other innovations were: Agrivault, a cooperative storage facility; a real-time delivery tracking application and a solar-powered mosquito-responsive device.
The R4i programme was launched in 2022 to bridge the gap between academic research and real-world application, with intensive training on problem identification, prototyping, business planning and fundraising.
According to reports, 18 researchers from previous cohorts secured a $250,000 grant under the Science Granting Councils Initiative in 2024 to advance four innovations towards commercialisation.