Government to Establish 41 University-Based Innovation Centres

The Federal Government has unveiled a plan to set up 41 university innovation hubs across tertiary institutions, aiming to transform Nigeria's economy from one based on resources to one driven by knowledge.

n

This announcement was made by the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, in a statement released on Wednesday, following a meeting with the United Nations Development Programme and seven university vice-chancellors to discuss the UNDP Innovation Hub.

n

According to Dr Alausa, the UniPods are intended to take research and innovation beyond academic publications, with the goal of converting discoveries into commercial enterprises, job creation, and tangible economic impact.

n

The initiative is aligned with President Bola Tinubu's vision of building a $1tn economy, with Dr Alausa highlighting the crucial role of education, technology, and research in achieving this target.

n

Dr Alausa revealed that eight UniPods have been inaugurated or are ready for inauguration, with three already in operation at the University of Lagos, Nasarawa State University, and Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike.

n

The minister listed several specialised hubs, including the Blue Economy UniPod in Akwa Ibom State, AgroTech at Benue State University, Resilience Tech in Borno State, GovTech at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and Industrial Tech in Plateau State.

n

The success of the initiative, Dr Alausa emphasised, will be measured by the practical solutions and business opportunities generated, rather than the physical structures provided.

n

Dr Alausa stressed that the UniPods must translate research and innovation into jobs, investment, and real economic impact, urging tertiary institutions to shift their research culture from one driven by academic promotion to one focused on commercialising lab discoveries.