Innov8 Hub underscores need for adequate investment in research-based solutions
Innov8 Hub underscores need for adequate investment in research-based solutions
Innov8 Hub, a non-profit and non-governmental innovation centre, has emphasised the need for increased investment in research-driven solutions to global challenges.
The NGO’s Deputy General-Manager, Dr Deji Ige gave the advice while briefing newsmen on the sidelines of the one-day demo for Academic Solutions Incubation Programme (ASIP) on Friday in Abuja.
The demo titled: “TETFAIR 5,6,7 and ASIP: Demo Day” was organised by Innov8 Hub in collaboration with the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) Alliance for Innovative Research (TETFAIR).
The event, centered on unveiling of 15 brand-new, fully functional prototypes that span agriculture and health to construction technology, digital solutions, energy among others, are developed by academics and researchers from tertiary institutions across Nigeria.
Ige said, “we are showcasing outcomes of partnership with TETFund. Innov8 Hub is the implementing partner of TETFAIR and ASIP.
“The choice of lecturers as participants was made through open call.
“Such as calls for application from academics in Nigeria tertiary institutions that have researchers trying to translate and transform ideas into solutions and solve challenges in the Nigerian society.
“A lot of people applied, and the most viable and achievable ideas were selected through a free and fair process, after which successful academics and researchers were admitted into the programme.
“There should be an end goal to every research, and that goal should be transformation. Researchers should be solution-driven.
“This is what formed the partnership between TETFAIR and Innov8 Hub. So, what are the end goals of these solutions?
“These are solutions that have reached the Minimum Viable Product (MVP) stage and can proceed to commercialisation if there is investment.”
He explained the measures aimed at sustaining such products, saying that after research, the next step was market validation, which involved engaging users or intended users to ensure the products were durable.
According to him, this will attract further investment that can lead to larger-scale commercialisation or help address challenges using locally available content within the community.
“So, every participant within TETFAIR, ASIP and other TETFund initiatives implemented by Innov8 Hub participates free of charge. No participant has to pay for their journey.
“Once you are selected, you are catered for from the beginning to the end — all expenses paid,” he said.
In his remarks, Mr Sunny Echono, Executive-Secretary of TETFund, said that the demo sought to promote the relevance of teaching and learning about innovation across institutions to the immediate environment.
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“Our national economy is dwindling because Nigeria and the world today have moved from producing graduates who go and fill positions either in administration or work in offices.
“Given the rapid expansion in our population and the evolution of the knowledge economy that places so much emphasis on skills and talents, we felt there was a fundamental need for a shift in our education system.
“With the increasing demand for creativity and innovation, it has become essential to rethink how we prepare individuals for future opportunities and challenges.
“To do that, we had to start with the academia, the teaching staff, the faculty, because when you teach a teacher and he goes back, you will also be able to translate that to the students.
“This is why we launched so many programmes in partnership with Innov8 Hub.
“And these programmes are designed to equip our lecturers, to reignite the creative and the research spirit in them,” Echono said.
He revealed not less than 72 different innovation hubs, similar to Innov8 Hub were put in place across various campuses and expanding on annual basis.
The programme featured training of the lecturers on business development, business modelling, product refinement, technical mentorship, prototype design and fabrication.
It also showcased “Deal Rooms” where innovators engaged directly with investors, industry leaders, and potential commercial partners to explore uptake, partnerships, and investment opportunities.
High point of the event was live pitch session, presentation of the leader board award/my tertiary story, the ordeal of an innovator-stage play, Ecolab showcase and presentation of patents and copyrights.
