Nigerian researchers have revealed a series of homegrown, market-ready prototypes developed through a pioneering initiative supported by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).
At the Science Granting Councils Initiative (SGCI) Demo Day and Closing Ceremony in Abuja, TETFund Executive Secretary, Arc. Sonny Echono highlighted the projects as evidence that Nigerian academics are capable of producing innovations with tangible commercial prospects.
“This event is more than a prototype exhibition; it represents a deliberate effort to transform ideas into impact, research into enterprise, and academia into a catalyst for national progress,” Echono said.
The SGCI is a multi-donor programme aimed at enhancing the capacity of science funding agencies across 17 African countries.
In 2023, TETFund secured a $250,000 grant under the Research for Impact (R4i) initiative, funded by Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). The grant supported four research teams, comprising 18 researchers from Nigerian tertiary institutions.
Implemented in partnership with Kenya’s African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS) and Nigeria’s Innov8 Hub, the SGCI project focused on converting promising research into market-ready products within 12 months.
The prototypes presented addressed national and global development challenges in sectors including clean energy, agriculture, water sanitation, and sustainable infrastructure.
Highlighted innovations included AirVolt, a renewable energy solution; I-GEL, an agricultural biotechnology product aimed at enhancing food resilience; and Jolly Fryer, an improved method for processing garri, among others.
Echono described the Demo Day as a celebration of Nigeria’s ability to lead in innovation through a collaborative model involving academia, government, and industry—what he called the Triple Helix Synergy.
He reiterated TETFund’s commitment to supporting research that tackles real-world problems, generates employment, and positions Nigeria as a global innovation hub.
Speaking on behalf of the Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, Mr. Francis Sani praised TETFund’s role in aligning innovation with national priorities.
He highlighted ongoing government initiatives such as the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme and the Nigeria Talent Initiative, which aim to prepare an AI-ready workforce and create 500,000 jobs via digital outsourcing hubs.
Nicholas Odongo, Project Coordinator at ACTS, remarked that the Nigerian projects represent more than academic success; they demonstrate the transformative power of knowledge to improve lives and foster sustainable livelihoods.
Gregory Ibe, Managing Director of Innov8 Hub, emphasised that the initiative represents a vital step towards strengthening research governance, nurturing innovation, and promoting sustainable development across Africa.
“We are proud to cultivate Nigeria’s most dynamic innovation community, fostering researchers, entrepreneurs, and visionaries committed to Africa’s future. This platform enables solutions and prototypes that tackle challenges locally and globally, proving that African solutions can indeed address African problems,” Ibe concluded.
