TETFund Encourages Academics to Innovate for Society

The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has called on Nigerian academics and researchers to shift their focus from merely publishing scholarly papers to developing practical innovations that tackle societal challenges and foster economic opportunities. This appeal was made by Executive Secretary Sonny Echono during the closing ceremony of the 35th cohort of the Research for Impact Initiative (R4i) in Abuja.

Echono highlighted that the initiative, in collaboration with Innov8 Hub, aims to institutionalize research and development in public tertiary institutions while enhancing the connection between academic research, industry, and government. He stressed the importance of empowering scholars to create local solutions and emphasized the need for Nigeria to develop home-grown technologies.

The R4i program is designed to reposition public tertiary institutions as key players in a knowledge-based economy. Echono acknowledged Innov8 Hub for its mentorship role and announced the upcoming TETFund National Research Fair and Exhibition scheduled for November 23 to 27, 2026, in Abuja.