TETFund And Nigeria’s Innovation Journey

In a world increasingly driven by technology and innovation, Nigeria is taking bold steps to redefine its future through research and development.

At the forefront of this national transformation is the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), a government agency originally known for funding academic infrastructure in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions.

Today, TETFund is spearheading an ambitious agenda to turn Nigerian research into innovation, knowledge into solutions, and ideas into enterprises.

Under the visionary leadership of its Executive Secretary, Arc. Sonny S.T. Echono, TETFund is becoming a catalyst for reshaping the academic landscape, ensuring that higher education contributes directly to national development, economic growth, and global competitiveness.

One of this vision recently unfolded through Nigeria’s active participation in the Science Granting Councils Initiative (SGCI), a multi-donor platform that strengthens the capacities of Science Granting Councils in Sub-Saharan Africa.

TETFund is one of the 17 member institutions of SGCI, and it represents Nigeria in a dynamic consortium committed to advancing research, innovation, and sustainable development across the continent.
In 2023, TETFund secured a $250,000 research grant for Nigerian researchers under the SGCI, funded by Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).

This funding marked a significant milestone for Nigerian academia, especially as it supported four research teams drawn from TETFund’s Research for Impact (R4i) initiative, a flagship programme designed to transform academic research into viable innovations with real-world applications.

The selected teams had originally developed their ideas and prototypes through R4i, a programme delivered in partnership with Innov8 Hub, one of Nigeria’s leading innovation centres.
With the SGCI grant, these teams were given the opportunity to further refine their projects, develop working models, and test for scalability. In managing this grant, TETFund signed a collaborative agreement with the African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS) in Kenya, which is overseeing implementation on behalf of SGCI.

This collaborative arrangement involving multiple actors, TETFund, SGCI, ACTS, Innov8 Hub, and international funders, represents a new model for academic innovation in Africa, one that combines research excellence, innovation ecosystems, and global funding into a sustainable framework for development.

The results of this partnership were recently celebrated at a “Demo Day” exhibition in Abuja, where the four research teams showcased their prototypes. These projects span critical areas of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, including Affordable and Clean Energy, Clean Water and Sanitation, Life on Land, and Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure.

They are practical solutions to real problems, technologies that can be deployed in rural communities, in cities, and across industries to improve lives and create jobs. More importantly, they represent a shift in Nigerian academic culture, from focusing on theoretical knowledge to producing tangible, solution-oriented innovations.

Arc. Echono, in his remarks at the Demo Day, emphasised the significance of this transformation. “TETFund remains steadfast in the belief that Research and Development is the bedrock upon which great nations are built. It is through this bridge between theory and practical application that we can close the gap between knowledge and impact.”

He explained that by supporting these incubation journeys, TETFund is investing in a movement that is redefining the purpose of education in Nigeria.

Across the nation’s universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education, complex academic ideas are now being transformed into tools, products, and services that can solve everyday challenges. This is not just academic reform; it is a revolution.

Speaking on the importance of the initiative, Gregory Ibe Jr., Managing Director of Innov8 Hub, who welcomed guests to the Demo Day said, “This exhibition is a celebration of bold ideas and collaborative efforts. At Innov8 Hub, we are honoured to partner with SGCI, TETFund, and other key stakeholders committed to advancing Africa’s innovation ecosystem.”

Ibe highlighted the unique role that Innov8 Hub plays in transforming research into scalable ventures. Through mentorship, technical support, and strategic guidance, Innov8 helps innovators move from idea to prototype, from prototype to market, and from market to impact. The Hub is becoming a lighthouse for innovation in Africa, a place where academic research is not shelved but shaped, scaled, and shared.
According to Ibe, the SGCI model represents a powerful and effective model for change. It brings together government agencies like TETFund, innovation hubs like Innov8, research councils, academic institutions, and industry players in a quadruple helix that ensures that no good idea gets lost in bureaucracy or buried in academic journals.

“These innovators are now prepared to build ventures that create economic value, generate jobs, and deliver measurable societal impact,” he said.

But he was quick to note that this is only the beginning. To sustain this momentum, he Nigeria must continue to invest in research and innovation, expand access to funding and mentorship, and build strong pan-African networks that amplify success and drive long-term growth.

For Dr. Nicholas Odongo, Project Coordinator for the R4i programme at the African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS), the Nigerian experience is a model of what is possible when partnerships work.
Speaking on behalf of SGCI and the consortium of international partners, Odongo expressed admiration for the creativity and resilience of the Nigerian research teams. “These projects are a testament to the power of knowledge to transform lives, communities, and futures. They reflect our shared commitment to advancing science and innovation that is rooted in local knowledge, responsive to national challenges, and geared toward sustainable impact.”

Odongo noted that SGCI has implemented over 80 research and innovation projects in 17 Sub-Saharan African countries. But what stands out about Nigeria is the speed, scale, and spirit of collaboration.
He encouraged the research teams not to stop at demonstration but to pursue commercialization, community adoption, and full deployment. “Let us complete the value chain until someone in rural Sokoto who has suffered from perennial drought can stand up and testify that her life has been transformed by one of these innovations,” he said.

He commended TETFund, Innov8 Hub, and all the participating institutions for their dedication, and called for the partnership to grow even stronger in the years ahead.

The significance of the SGCI-TETFund-Innov8 collaboration also received attention from the Federal Government. The Minister of Communication, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, lauded the programme for its potential to drive Nigeria’s economic growth and improve the quality of life for citizens.

Represented by his Technical Adviser on Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Capital, Francis Sani, the minister emphasized that innovation is at the heart of the federal government’s development agenda.
He praised the research teams for their outstanding work and urged stakeholders to continue working together to nurture Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem. “These projects are a testament to what Nigerian innovators can achieve,” he said. “They show that with the right support, our researchers can create solutions that address our most pressing challenges.”

Dr. Tijani pledged his ministry’s support for future initiatives that link academia, government, and the private sector. He stressed the need for long-term investment in research and the creation of an enabling environment for innovation to thrive.