Reps applaud TETFUND for encouraging youth research

The House of Representatives has praised the Tertiary Education Trust Fund for encouraging research and creating creative hubs to support science and technology education among young people in Nigeria.

The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, made a commitment to support creative activities in Nigeria during his speech on Sunday at the end of a two-week summit for some Nigerian academics, researchers, and students at the Abuja Innov8 Hub.

The program, named “Research for Impact Initiative (R4i),” is a joint effort between TETFund and Innov8 Hub. It was introduced in 2022 and has as its sole goal the promotion of economic growth and all-encompassing national development in Nigeria through innovation, technology, and research and development.

The House is interested in offering solutions to the Federal Republic of Nigeria’s multifaceted needs, according to Kalu. Additionally, we’ve realized that the issues we’ve been attempting to resolve year after year with the help of customary practice haven’t produced the level of output we had hoped for in this nation; for this reason, we must strongly encourage innovation that will challenge custom in order to boost productivity.

This innovation requirement is even more critical for Nigeria. Our problems are manifold, ranging from poverty and unemployment to climate change and security threats. We must tap into the enormous potential of our people, especially our young minds full of innovative ideas and an entrepreneurial spirit, if we are to overcome these challenges and accomplish sustainable development.

This is the context in which i-FAIR’s Innov8 Hub program is useful. These initiatives enable our innovators, inventors, and entrepreneurs to turn their concepts into workable solutions by offering mentorship, tools, and platforms for collaboration.

The Israeli community and the State of Israel’s Embassy in Nigeria were recognized by the Deputy Speaker for their roles in “partnering with Nigeria in this crucial endeavor.” We as a nation greatly appreciate your support, and your dedication to promoting innovation and entrepreneurship in Nigeria is truly commendable.

“We need to innovate, according to the President. Nigeria thinks innovation is essential. That’s why every government agency, including the TETFund, has been provided with everything required to move innovation from where it was under this administration to where it should be.

“And from the parliament, I’m happy to say that the man driving it is a good friend of mine; he’s not sleeping and he wants to push.” You have my admiration. I’m quite pleased with you!

“By thinking beyond the box and focusing on the possible while combating the impossibility, you are demonstrating innovative thinking about how we can build this country and improve our quality of life. You should keep up the good work; I’m proud of what you’re doing.

“And I was impressed when I heard in that speech that you intend to multiply this,” the speaker said. Kalu told TETFund, “I was really impressed to hear that you are planning to even incorporate those who innovated outside this hub and that you will provide a platform for them. By doing this, you will harvest innovations you have not invested in and then prune them for a greater future.”

As part of the initiatives being carried out by the Peace in South East Project, the Deputy Speaker also advocated for the creation of these innovation hubs throughout the South East region of Nigeria in order to lessen the effects of underdevelopment and insecurity.

Lalu stated that the initiative can be strategically linked to PISE-P through the involvement of young people, according to a statement provided by the Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Speaker, Mr. Levinus Nwabughiogu.

I request that i-FAIR think about setting up a facility of a similar nature in the southeast region of Nigeria. He emphasized that there is a great deal of potential for fostering innovation and entrepreneurship in this area, which is known as the center of our country’s manufacturing.

Prior to this, Sonny Echono, the Executive Secretary of TETFund, stated that the initiative is a component of the Fund’s plan to realign public tertiary institutions in order to accelerate the country’s reawakening and foster socioeconomic growth.