Minister of Education, Mr. Maruf Tunji
Alausa, has urged Nigerian universities and the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) to bridge the gap between academic research and the marketplace by converting innovations into businesses, jobs and practical solutions.
Alausa gave the charge while addressing vice-chancellors, directors of academic affairs, directors of postgraduate studies and officials of the Federal Ministry of Education on potential partnerships between universities and NASENI through the proposed NASENI Campus.
He said the initiative would connect researchers with advanced laboratories, prototyping facilities, industries and investors, thereby creating a pathway for promising ideas to move from laboratories into the marketplace.
The minister said Nigeria must deliberately move from research to commercialisation if the country is to maximise its human capital.
He stressed that research should not end with academic publications or prototypes.
Drawing lessons from the innovation ecosystem around Cambridge, Massachusetts, Alausa said Nigerian researchers should be supported to patent inventions, develop marketable products and partner with investors to establish viable companies.
He said such an approach would help convert human capital into human development.
Alausa urged NASENI to strengthen partnerships with universities around its development centres, noting that universities have a large pool of researchers, lecturers and students whose expertise could complement the agency’s activities.
He said NASENI could help bridge the gap between research and commercial success through patent support, venture capital connections and the creation of spin-off companies.
The minister also urged the agency to explore lithium processing and battery manufacturing as Nigeria develops its renewable energy and industrial capacity.
The EVC/CEO of NASENI, Khalil Suleiman Halilu, explained that the agency was working to bridge the gap between research and production in line with President Bola Tinubu’s directive to move innovations beyond prototypes.
He said the proposed NASENI Campus, located within a 100-hectare free trade zone, would bring researchers, professors, prototyping facilities, industries and commercialisation opportunities together.
The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Abuja, Professor Hakeem Babatunde Fawehinmi, said the institution’s existing partnership with NASENI demonstrated the potential of the model.
He said the collaboration had produced an integrated agriculture incubation centre, greenhouse facilities, automated poultry systems and tissue culture laboratories.
The university, he added, was ready to expand the partnership into areas including dairy science and renewable energy.
Similarly, the Vice-Chancellor of Bayero University, Kano, Professor Haruna Musa, said the institution was exploring broader collaboration with NASENI in nanotechnology, vaccinology, toxinology and mathematical modelling.
He disclosed that two BUK research projects had reached the final stage of NASENI’s research commercialisation grant process, including a reusable sanitary pad initiative and commercial production of sweet potato-based starch derivatives.
Alausa reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to creating a functional pipeline linking research, innovation, investment, production and job creation.
He said the objective under President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda was to ensure that Nigerian knowledge, skills and innovations translate into enterprises, employment and sustainable prosperity.
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