FG, TETFund launch North-Central initiative to drive research commercialisation

The Federal Ministry of Education, through its Research, Innovation and Commercialisation Committee (RICC), in collaboration with the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), has commenced the North-Central Zonal National Commercialisation Intelligence and Ecosystem Engagement Workshop in Jos, Plateau State, as part of efforts to transform research outputs into commercially viable products and industries.

The two-day workshop is the third in a series of six zonal engagements designed to strengthen Nigeria’s National Research and Commercialisation Intelligence Ecosystem and accelerate the commercialisation of research, innovations and inventions.

The event brought together policymakers, researchers, academics, industry leaders, investors, development partners, innovation hubs, financial institutions and other stakeholders from Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, Plateau and the Federal Capital Territory to explore practical strategies for advancing research commercialisation across the region.

Speaking at the opening, the Chairman of the Research, Innovation and Commercialisation Committee, TF Okujagu, described the North-Central region as a critical driver of Nigeria’s innovation and economic landscape due to its agricultural strength, intellectual resources and strategic location.

He said the workshop forms part of a nationwide consultation aimed at gathering regional intelligence and developing an evidence-based National Research-to-Commercialisation Framework tailored to the strengths and priorities of each geopolitical zone.

According to Okujagu, Nigeria’s challenge is not the shortage of ideas but the absence of a coordinated ecosystem linking researchers, innovators, industry, investors, government and markets.

He explained that the proposed National Research and Commercialisation Intelligence Ecosystem would serve as a unified digital platform aggregating research outputs, innovations, patents, industry needs, funding opportunities and investment intelligence into a single national repository.

“The platform will serve as a strategic national asset that promotes collaboration, facilitates technology transfer, supports evidence-based policymaking and accelerates the commercialisation of research into products, enterprises, jobs and national prosperity,” he said.

He added that the initiative aligns with the Federal Government’s agenda, championed by the Minister of Education and TETFund, to promote research commercialisation, diversify the economy and enhance Nigeria’s competitiveness in the global knowledge economy.

Delivering the keynote address titled “Research Commercialisation: Bridging Knowledge, Industry and National Prosperity,” Professor Seth Akutson stressed the need to reposition research as a catalyst for economic transformation.

He observed that although Nigeria produces thousands of research outputs annually, much of the work remains confined to laboratories and academic journals rather than being translated into products and services with economic value.

Akutson urged stronger collaboration among universities, research institutes, government, industry, investors, innovation hubs and development partners to create an integrated innovation ecosystem capable of moving discoveries from research laboratories to the marketplace.

He said effective commercialisation requires mentorship, technology transfer, intellectual property management, financing and improved market access, urging participants to see themselves as partners in building Nigeria’s innovation-driven future.

Also speaking, RICC member Engr. Umar Bindir presented the National Research-to-Commercialisation (R2C) Initiative, describing it as a practical framework for connecting research institutions with industry and investment opportunities.

Bindir said the initiative would establish a comprehensive National Research and Commercialisation Intelligence Ecosystem capturing research assets, technology readiness levels, innovation hubs, patents, funding sources, market opportunities and industry demands on a unified digital platform.

He noted that the initiative would reduce fragmentation within Nigeria’s innovation landscape while providing reliable intelligence to support investment decisions, collaboration and policymaking.

According to him, publicly funded research must go beyond academic publications to generate enterprises, create quality jobs, strengthen local industries and improve national productivity.

Participants commended the Federal Ministry of Education and TETFund for their sustained commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s research and innovation ecosystem through strategic investments and policies.

They noted that the partnership between both institutions on the RICC initiative is laying the foundation for a coordinated national ecosystem that will bridge the gap between research and industry, stimulate innovation-driven enterprises, create jobs and position research as a key driver of sustainable economic growth and national competitiveness.

The Research, Innovation and Commercialisation Committee was established by the Federal Ministry of Education and is administered by TETFund, with the Nigerian Economic Summit Group providing strategic coordination and private sector-led technical support to strengthen collaboration among academia, industry, government, investors and development partners.