TETFund charges tertiary institutions on innovation, viable research

THE Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), has charged tertiary institutions on the need to be innovative while also conducting viable research that would make them relevant to the society.

The executive secretary of TETFund, Mr Sonny Echono, gave the charge at a closing ceremony in Abuja, where more than 18 polytechnics lecturers, successfully completed a training programme on Research for Impact (R4i) initiative organised by the fund.

He said the initiative organised in collaboration with Innov8 Hub, is aimed at promoting innovation and viable research in higher education institutions.

Echono, who stated that Nigeria could not afford to be left behind in technological development, posited that technological development holds the massive key to overcoming challenges bedevilling the country.

“The world has witnessed tremendous transformation with technology at the centre stage; transforming lives, creating jobs and impacting nations. Most great nations that have developed were able to attain such heights through education, technological evolution as well as revolution which were all steeped in insatiable quest for knowledge.

“This thirst for better ways of doing things has resulted in innovations which brought about the development of new technologies, products and transformations in the telecommunication industry as well as new ways of existence.

“The emergence of the digital age has presented the world with no other alternative than to adapt to the emerging realities. Consequently, nations and citizens are compelled to either develop, or remain as second-class nations that would continuously depend on and serve other nations that have advanced through learning and impactful research, “ Echono said.

While appreciating the Innov8 Hub for its willingness to partner with TETFund to propagate and advance an innovation ecosystem in the Nigerian tertiary education sphere, Echono pledged the commitment of the agency to continue to invest in research as the foundation for Nigeria’s emergence as a knowledge-based economy.

Echono expressed hope that the two weeks of intense research activities undergone by the 18 lecturers would stimulate knowledge sharing, collaboration, growth and excellence.

On his part, the executive secretary of National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), Professor Idris Bugaje, challenged the participants to work as a team and share knowledge gained with other lecturers in their various institutions.

The NBTE boss commended TETFunds for the R4i initiative, describing it as a vital process in Nigerian polytechnics in the area of research and innovation promotion.

“I have also been told that what we have here in Innov8 Hub, will be replicated in selected polytechnics across the country. This is the best way to go,” Bugaje said.

Also speaking, the chief facilitator of the workshop, Dr Obichi Obiajunwa, said that the 18 lecturers underwent an intensive two-week programme, where they were equipped with the tools needed to commercialise their research and develop solutions to the real-world problems aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),

“The essence of this workshop has been to empower our researchers to translate their invaluable work (all of the incredible fabrication projects they handle in school) into societal value.

“Through their dedication and hardwork, they have identified problems within the SDGs and have transformed them into four remarkable prototypes in just 10 days.

“This achievement reflects not only their ingenuity and passion, but also their unwavering commitment to creating a positive impact in our society,” Obiajunwa said.