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January 3, 2025
Education/Innovation
TETFAIR On The Cusp Of Changing The Nigerian Story
‘There is one kind of charity common enough among us…It is that patchwork philanthropy which clothes the ragged, feeds the poor, and heals the sick. I am far from decrying the noble spirit which seeks to help a poor or suffering fellow being…[However] what advances a nation or community is not so much to prop up its weakest and most helpless members, but to lift up the best and the most gifted, so as to make them of the greatest service to the country “
– Jamsetji Nusserwanji Tata (March 3,1839 – May 19, 1904), Pioneer Indian Industrialist, Foremost Philanthropist, and Founder Tata Group (India’s 2nd largest conglomerate).
For years, research in most of Nigeria’s tertiary institutions was embarked upon only as a way of fulfilling ambitions and winning academic laurels. More than six decades after independence, the nation is yet to create impactful homegrown technologies, not to talk of catching up with the world in developing innovation concepts, critical inventions or in applied/fit-for-purpose research.
Realising that practical application of research to the country’s desideratum is still abysmally low, successive Governments, The Academia and Industry have over the years, been seeking ways of joining forces to honing, domiciling and tailoring institutional research towards solving societal problems. Experts have deemed this move as one of the enduring ways of attaining rapid socio-economic transformation and sustainability.
In time, the Triple Helix concept was developed to fostering cooperation between the Government, Academia and Industry as a way of moving forward in setting Nigeria on the sure path of progress and accelerated development.
On the 14th day of December 2022, the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), revved the engines of the much-desired Triple Helix Model to life via its collaboration with Innov8 (an Abuja based Innovation driven organisation), in unveiling the TETFund Alliance for Innovative Research (TETFAIR).
That selfsame day, TETFund and Innov8 kickstarted a journey that is taking a group of 7I egg-heads and bright minds (broken into teams), and drawn from various institutions of higher learning in Nigeria, towards a certain future with great expectations for the nation and the world at large.
TETFAIR, a novel ideation is primed to advance research into innovation, solution and enterprise; in that order. The participants have access to the Innov8 hub at Abuja for 12 months where they can make use of ultramodern facilities that would aid the development of their innovation prototypes at no cost.
They will also be exposed to international mentorship for capacity enhancement including industry experts and investors. As an addition, they would be guided on how to patent their inventions in line with best global practices.
For Nigeria, the TETFAIR outcomes are geared towards solving some of the nation’s challenges with home-grown innovations, ventures, and jobs creation. The nation also stands to gain by the introduction of perfected technologies, processes and procedures, to its populace, via a honed-in capability, for solving critical problems.
In addition, nation-building is steadily buoyed through sustained productivity, self-sufficiency, enhanced innovation and developmental research, with gilt-edged entrepreneurship in tow.
The Academia, the third leg of the tripod, would record a huge boost in the capacity building of academics, whose ideas could now be transformed into innovations with commercialisation potentials. The nation’s tertiary institutions would also, in the main, be equipped with requisite skills, knowledge, technologies and capacities to transform ideas into tangibles/products, among other visible and latent benefits.
In declaring the Fair open, the Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu who was represented by the Minister of State, Rt. Honourable Goodluck Nanah Opiah, stated that “Most of the countries that have emerged as global leaders have achieved this status through ingenuity and hardwork of their scientists”. Speaking further, the Minister said “….I believe all the experiences gained would be deployed to improve and expand the frontiers of Science and Technology in solving real life problems…”
As one who is quite sold on the making of a new Nigeria, this writer would be updating the readers of the innovations/inventions being embarked upon by this Special Class of 71.
Today, the works of three teams will be touched on, whilst those of others would be discussed in series, down the road.
Team A
Project: Team is working on the development of multi-mix nutrients from insects to combat malnutrition in families. Insects are loaded with nutrients and are treasure-troves of amino acids, required for growth.
Institution: University of University of Ibadan, Oyo State.
Lead: Dr Fọláṣadé Adeboyejọ
Team Members: Dr Fẹmi Adebiyi; Dr Oladejo Thomas Adepoju
The fact that as at 2022, 828 million people the world over are found to be undernourished, with 257 million of those coming out of Africa, makes this work really compelling. That is, indeed, a huge market globally, and the fact that insects are the source of the needed raw materials makes this project very interesting.
Team B
Project: Paints made from waste polymers and functionalised bamboo cellulose.
Institution: Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun near Warri, Delta State.
Lead: Dr Elias Emeka Elemike
Members: Professor Doris Fovwe Ogeleka; Dr Akinyemi O. Ogunkeyede; Engr. Dr Chinedum Mgbemena
The aim of the Team is to process plastic (a major pollutant and irritant, the world over) and bamboo sticks as replacement materials for imported polyvinyl acetate (PVA/binder) and natrosol (thickener) – major components of paint manufacturing.
The overall objective is to “reduce environmental pollution, climate change/global warming, support industrial growth and sustainable cities by using waste materials as alternatives”
–Olakunri, a public sector analyst, writes from Abuja.
The Team also indicated that survey it carried out has shown that there is huge demand for “eco-friendly, sustainable, and affordable paint products” which they plan to produce.
No one needs a crystal ball to see that the Team’s project will, indeed, be a game changer in the paint, and by extension, the construction industry.
Team C
Project: A brick-like invention that can be worn as a bracelet in containing ear impairment. All components are to be sourced locally.
Institution: University of Ibadan, Oyo State.
Lead: Dr Adebolajo Adeyemo
Team Members: Dr David Oluwasola Adeniji; Dr Bolanle Oladejo; Engr. Newton Monye (Innov8)
There are 432 million people globally with disabling hearing loss and requiring hearing aids according to statistics provided by the Team. Of this number, Africa accounts for 136 million and Nigeria, 10.6 million. This is one of its kind innovation and would definitely shake the world!
The three teams unfurled today, have demonstrated their avowed determination to making a difference in the life of the average citizen, and the corporate existence of Nigeria as a nation. Not only would the raw materials of their individual projects be sourced locally, huge amounts of foreign exchange spent on importation would also be saved. When the immeasurable national pride that comes with the “Made in Nigeria” stamp on the jackets, cartons or boxes transporting these world-class inventions, all over the globe is added to the mix, plus the considerable inflow of foreign exchange into the nation’s coffers from exporting these items, then, it begins to sink into the individual consciousness, that Nigeria’s story is, indeed, changing.
A trainer, life coach and writer, Benjamin Suulola, once said “Great nations are not born great. Great nations are made great!”
The innovation revolution being galvanised by the TETFund/Innov8 partnership, imbued with the quests of citizens who dare to dream, is definitely setting the most populous Black nation on earth, on the sure path to greatness.
Indeed, Nigeria needs to laud TETFund for the extensive support the organisation has been rendering its public tertiary institutions over the years. This is even more so, if viewed from the prism of the exemplary successes the Fund has been recording since the current leadership took over the reins some 10 months ago.
Again in the words of Benjamin Suulola “We can change the destiny of our nation through the power of making the right choices at this very time”
Certainly, Architect Sonny S.T. Echono, TETFund’s Executive Secretary and his talented team are making the right choices today, for the benefits of the current generation of Nigerians, and the class of the unborn.
–Olakunri, a public sector analyst, writes from Abuja.
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