UNDP, TETFund partner to boost University innovation hubs
By Funmilayo Adeyemi
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has partnered with the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) to establish and scale up university-based innovation hubs across Nigeria.
Sonny Echono, Executive Secretary of TETFund, said this during a meeting with a UNDP delegation at TETFund’s headquarters in Abuja on Monday.
He noted that UNDP’s projects aligned closely with the Fund’s ongoing interventions.
“I’m very glad to deepen this relationship. Nigeria has one of the most youthful populations in the world, smart, hardworking, and curious.
“Innovation comes naturally to our people. What we must do is equip them with the right environment, infrastructure, and platforms to thrive,” Echono said.
He explained that TETFund was already investing in more than 60 innovation hubs across tertiary institutions, with plans to integrate them with UNDP-supported centres for greater impact.
“We started with 18 hubs and are scaling to 68 this year.
“We’re replicating a model in Abuja in partnership with Israeli startups, and we’re working with local industries like Panteka in Kaduna and Computer Village in Lagos, for practical training.
“This aligns perfectly with your eight hubs and allows us to collaborate our efforts,” he added.
Echono said the partnership would also focus on commercialising research, improving energy infrastructure on campuses, and developing technical skills.
“We have recently set up a national committee on commercialising research outputs.
“We’re building six regional laboratories across geopolitical zones and investing in energy efficiency in at least nine universities this year.
“These projects are strategic and aligned with global trends, especially in renewable energy and the green economy,” he explained.
Also speaking, UNDP’s Resident Representative in Nigeria, Elsie Attafuah, lauded TETFund’s strategic direction and commitment to youth-driven innovation.
She noted that the UNDP delegation’s visit follows support for innovation spaces in eight Nigerian universities.
“By September, we will have established eight innovation hubs. But the goal is not just to create spaces; it is to co-invest in ideas.
“We must take these ideas to scale. Who will fund them? How do we de-risk innovation and ensure access to capital for youth-led ventures? That’s where this partnership becomes transformative,” she said.
Attafuah emphasised the importance of structural transformation through value-chain development and technological advancement.
She highlighted Nigeria’s vast mineral wealth, such as lithium in Nasarawa, and stressed the need for technology to add value locally.
“We want to work with you to link innovation to trade, jobs, and sustainable livelihoods. Artificial Intelligence, for instance, will define the future.
“We’re partnering with the University of Lagos to establish Nigeria’s first AI Core, one of many steps we must take together,” she added. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Abiemwense Moru
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