Now more than ever, thereโs renewed faith in Nigeriaโs future. With abundant human capital, raw talent, and relentless creativity, the country stands at the edge of transformation โ and a major force pushing this change is the powerful partnership between the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) and Innov8 Hub, an innovation-focused NGO based in Abuja.
This collaboration is actively reshaping Nigeriaโs research and innovation ecosystem through initiatives like the TETFund Alliance for Innovative Research (TETFAIR) for universities and Research for Impact (R4i) for polytechnics. These programmes empower academics to turn research into real-world solutions, entrepreneurship, and economic impact.
R4i Cohort 30: Innovation in Action
At the heart of this progress is Cohort 30 of the R4i programme, a group of innovators from 11 polytechnics across the country who just completed a 10-day intensive boot camp at Innov8 Hub.
Their final showcase featured groundbreaking ideas aimed at solving real Nigerian challenges, reaffirming the countryโs capacity for homegrown, practical innovation.
Driving Research That Matters
At the graduation ceremony, TETFund Executive Secretary, Architect Sonny S.T. Echono, applauded the participants and reiterated TETFundโs vision: funding solution-driven research that fosters entrepreneurship and technological advancement.
He noted that previous R4i cohorts had already made their mark โ some showcased their innovations at the first TETFund National Research Fair held in Abuja in 2024. He expressed confidence that the latest batch would do the same.
Echono also highlighted TETFundโs plans to establish 48 innovation and entrepreneurship hubs across public tertiary institutions under the 2023โ2025 initiative. These hubs will serve as platforms for mentorship and knowledge-sharing, helping institutions and communities thrive.
Innov8โs Impact: From Ideas to Prototypes
Gregory Ibe (Jnr), Managing Director of Innov8 Hub, reaffirmed their commitment to bridging the gap between research and commercialisation. He shared that Innov8 has already helped create over 250 prototypes and supported more than 1,000 innovators and researchers nationwide.
He thanked TETFund for their support and encouraged Nigerians to continue pushing boundaries through innovation.
Voices of Support and Celebration
NBTE Executive Secretary, Prof. Idris Bugaje, urged polytechnics to lead Nigeriaโs industrialisation through innovation. Innov8 Director and former ECOWAS VP, Edward Singhatey, praised the remarkable results the participants achieved in just two weeks and encouraged them to refine their projects for market success.
Representing the graduates, Engineer Nandang Kargwak Ishaku from Plateau State Polytechnic spoke passionately about how the programme transformed them from academics into โchange makers, innovators, and pioneers of a new Nigeria.โ
โThe work culture at Innov8 Hub has reignited our belief in a new Nigeria โ one where research powers industries and local solutions lead the way,โ he said.
Innovations That Matter
Some standout projects included:
- Zero Hunger (Ramat Polytechnic, Maiduguri): โRampo Kidsโ โ a fortified cereal for under-five children.
- Affordable & Clean Energy (Federal Polytechnic, Nekede): Eco-Waste Converter โ transforms biomass into clean fuel.
- Climate Action (Hassan Usman Katsina Polytechnic): Soil & Environment Monitoring System โ provides real-time updates via SMS for farmers.
- Good Health & Well-being (The Polytechnic Ibadan): Funfit โ a fitness device for professionals over 40.
- Industry & Infrastructure (Plateau State Polytechnic): Power Watch โ alerts institutions on power fluctuations.
- Clean Water & Sanitation (Auchi Polytechnic): Microchem โ a wastewater treatment system removing microbial and chemical contaminants.
A New Era of Nigerian Innovation
These incredible solutions prove that Nigerian innovation is alive and thriving. With programmes like R4i, backed by TETFund and Innov8 Hub, the nation is producing solutions that not only meet local needs but also inspire the world.
The challenge now is to scale and sustain these efforts โ turning innovation into lasting impact and empowering the next generation of Nigerian innovators.
