The Executive Secretary of Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Arc. Sonny Echono, has expressed the readiness of the Fund to replicate innovation hubs projects in public universities and other higher education institutions in the country.
Echono, who stated this at the opening of TETFund Alliance for Innovative Research (TETFAIR) initiative on Wednesday in Abuja, said the TETFAIR programme was put in place in collaboration with Innov8 Hub, a firm championing the advancement of Science and Technology Education in Nigeria, as part of efforts to institutionalise Research and Development (R&D) in Nigeria.
“The programme is designed to support the advancement of solution-driven research, innovation and sustainable development in Nigeria. Being a year-long programme, TETFAIR is aimed at providing a unique opportunity for our academics and researchers in Nigerian Universities to transform their ideas into market-driven solutions, including the development and fabrication of prototypes,” he said.
He said through the programme, selected teams of researchers and academic staff with promising ideas for innovative solutions in the programme areas of focus, are being taken through a journey that combines technology and product development along with venture creation.
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While saying many Nigerians who took part in start-up programmes by Innov8 hub have recorded many breakthroughs in inventions and technology, Echono said, the programme is carefully packaged to take the participants through various courses that combine the intricacies, processes and procedures of Innovation Development, Prototyping and Venture Creation to enable them bring their innovative ideas to fruition.
Speaking further, Echono said the initiative is also aimed at providing solutions to identified challenges based on strategic needs and national priorities in areas such as Agriculture and Food Technology; Environment, Energy and Circular Economy; Health and Accessibility: Information Communication Technology; Security; Transportation, Aviation, Shipping, among others.
Declaring the TETFAIR open, Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu said the initiative would help address gaps and proffer solutions that will help Nigeria meet global demands.
Represented by Minister of State for Education, Goodluck Nanah Opiah, Adamu, said most of the countries that have emerged as global leaders have achieved this status through genuity and hard work of their scientists.
“There is the need for our researchers and research findings to bring about knowledge, sharing of ideas, mobilisation of practical implementation of these ideas.
On his part, Deji Ige, communication adviser, innovat8 hub, said the organisation was established to promote innovation and nurture ideas to reality.
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