Nigeria Enhances Research Commercialisation Efforts

The Nigerian government is intensifying its research commercialisation initiatives following the South-West Zonal National Commercialisation Intelligence and Ecosystem Engagement Workshop held in Lagos. This two-day event was the final of six regional workshops aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s research commercialisation ecosystem.

It gathered stakeholders from Ekiti, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, and Oyo states, including policymakers, researchers, and industry leaders, to devise strategies for turning research findings into commercially viable products. TF Okujagu, Acting Chairman of the Research, Innovation and Commercialisation Committee (RICC), emphasized the South-West's strategic importance due to its concentration of educational and industrial resources.

He identified the lack of a coordinated ecosystem linking researchers with industry as a major challenge. The proposed National Commercialisation Intelligence System (NCIS) will serve as a digital platform to connect various stakeholders, providing access to research outputs and funding opportunities.

Engr. Umar Bindir, a RICC member, stressed the need for collaboration among academia, industry, and government to enhance Nigeria's economic value from research.