The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) plans to set up innovation hubs in 45 beneficiary institutions across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
TETFund’s Executive Secretary, Arc. Sonny Echono, announced the plan at the closing ceremony of the fund’s Research for Impact (R4i) programme in Abuja. He was represented by Arc. Babatunde Olajide, the fund’s Director of Monitoring and Evaluation.
What the hubs are for
- Give researchers the space and equipment to build practical solutions to problems in their communities.
- Help turn research into products that can be patented and sold.
- Keep R4i-trained academics working on their projects after the programme ends.
- Reposition universities, polytechnics and colleges of education as centres of innovation.
About R4i
R4i trains lecturers to design research with real-world impact. It runs in partnership with Innov8 Technology Hub. Earlier cohorts produced several prototypes, some of which have been patented. The number of nominees per institution has risen from one to four, and Echono said the next phase will focus on commercialising products.
What it means for students
The 45 institutions haven’t been named yet. Where hubs are built, students in science, engineering, ICT and agriculture could gain access to labs, prototyping tools and project mentors, which helps with final-year projects and start-up ideas.
TETFund has also been funding students directly through its support for the student loan scheme. See our NELFUND guide and scholarship updates.
