Academics, Innovators, Others Converge For TETFund Research Fair

Academics, innovators, researchers, and industry leaders have converged in Abuja for the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) 2024 maiden national research fair/exhibition.

The five-day event began yesterday and brought together Nigeria’s brightest minds to showcase groundbreaking research, foster collaboration, and explore innovative solutions to the country’s most pressing challenges.

On display was a sensor-based claymore mine, which aims to revolutionise defensive capabilities and operational safety in counter-terrorism and a long-range surveillance drone by the Nigerian army.

Other exhibits included mini electric vehicles and a seven-seater tricycle powered by solar energy, among several others.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, the minister of education, Dr. Olatunji Alausa, said he was inspired by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s deliberate intentions and reforms, especially through TETFund’s specific efforts to encourage academia to address critical needs for national development.

“It is this inspiration and the recognition of the important role you all play in achieving results from these reforms that have encouraged us to deliberately support the TETFund National Research Fair, with specific reference to the role of universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, as well as the creativity and innovations from individuals and communities.”

He said the research fair is specially aligned with the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which focuses on domestically applying local research results to create jobs, generate wealth, and ultimately strengthen the economy.

“This National Research Fair is a clarion call to all tertiary institutions and research institutes in Nigeria to align with the reforms of Mr President and conduct their teaching, research, and innovations in ways that are applied, practical, and effective in addressing the development challenges in our country.”

“The fair will be sustained as an annual national effort, and we will sensitise Nigerians, especially the youth, to take advantage of the outcomes and participate in our economic development.”

“We urge funding and financial institutions, including commercial banks, to reform their support for the government, strategically supporting Nigerians in establishing small and medium enterprises using homegrown technologies. We also encourage international development partners to align their support with Mr President’s Renewed Hope Agenda to ensure Nigerian youth acquire the necessary skills to succeed as producers and service providers for national development.”

In his address, Arc. Sonny Echono, the Executive Secretary of TETFund, expressed his excitement about the inaugural TETFund National Research Fair/Exhibition, emphasising its significance in promoting research and innovation to support national development.

He stated that TETFund, established by the federal government, is dedicated to enhancing Nigeria’s higher education sector by funding essential infrastructure, research, and academic staff development across public tertiary institutions. TETFund’s core mission is to improve educational standards through targeted financial support for various critical needs in these institutions.

Echono stressed the vital role of research and innovation in societal progress, stating that scientific discoveries should address real-world problems and improve living standards. He pointed out that TETFund has been actively funding key research initiatives, such as the Institution-Based Research (IBR), National Research Fund (NRF), and Mega Research projects.

“In view of the policies of the government aimed at revamping the economy, creating jobs, generating wealth, and redistributing wealth among Nigerians, TETFund further recognizes the imperative need to enhance the linkages between academic performance and industry, as well as with the daily lives of the average Nigerian,” he said.

Also speaking, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of TETFund, Hon. Aminu Bello Masari, said the Fund has committed significant resources to research and development (R&D) programmes since its inception in 2011 to develop homegrown solutions from cutting-edge research in TETFund beneficiary institutions for national development.

“The fund has sponsored 23,221 Institution-Based Research (IBR) projects since 2011 and 912 National Research Fund (NRF) grants since 2012. The Board of Trustees is committed to providing transformative interventions to drive research and innovation and improve the global competitiveness of our tertiary institutions.”

“It is in recognition of the role of research in national development and the need to address the paucity of funds necessary to facilitate cutting-edge research in areas of national priorities that the Board of Trustees of TETFund introduced the National Research Fund (NRF) intervention to fund impactful research that will contribute to national development efforts as well as tackle global challenges.”