The TETFund Alliance for Innovative Research (TETFAIR) may have come and gone but its memories will linger on in the minds of participants and industry stakeholders at large for a long time to come.
If there was any element of doubt that Nigerian inventors are yet to come of age, that notion was dispelled at the just-concluded TETFAIR where it was disclosed that prototypes of innovations developed by a team of Nigerian researchers under the TETFund Alliance for Innovative Research (TETFAIR) have been tested and receiving positive feedback from potential investors.
Another discovery at the occasion was that a team of inventors also designed and developed a hearing aid that is self-programmable, affordable and more suitable for the African market.
The Executive Secretary of TETFund, Arc. Sonny Echono, who could not hold back his excitement at the innovations, described them as the tangible impact of the Fund’s unwavering commitment to research and development.
The TETFund boss added that the team was selected among the top three participants in the Accelerate, Redesign and Collaborate (ARC) Centre for Digital Innovation Entrepreneurship Programme at the Sheba Hospital in Israel, and they presented their innovation at an international medical conference.
Speaking further on the strides of researchers under the TETFAIR initiative, he said the teams have also developed prototypes for application in agriculture and food technology, including a non-invasive, automated poultry measurement and data collection and analysis system.
Other prototypes developed by the teams are include a wireless network-based system for tracking and monitoring small and higher animals to a drone equipped with innovative solutions that utilize sound to herd birds away from farms in a specific direction.
“For education, a team designed and developed an Education Kit to be used as an experimental study kit for physics using the characteristics of the flywheel. Another team developed an automation solution for the textile drying process, enhancing the cost efficiency of textile printing for small and medium businesses.
“For the oil and gas industry, a team developed an intelligent remote monitoring device to help oil and gas facility owners carry out maintenance of the Cathodic Protection Systems on their pipelines.”
According to him, all prototypes have been tested and are receiving positive feedback from potential investors.
Echono described research and innovation as remedies to address the challenges of underdevelopment bedeviling the nation, adding that they are the most compelling strategy for accelerating sustainable growth.
He said the TETFAIR was specifically organized to support Nigerian researchers and academics in the universities to bring their innovative ideas to fruition.
“The advocacy for the institutionalization of Research and innovation in our tertiary education arose from the need to address the myriads of underdevelopment problems plaguing our country and the lack of capacity to tackle it.
“TETFund, as the foremost interventionist agency in Nigeria’s Tertiary Education Sector has deepened its intervention in content- based programmes. The Fund is making conscious investments in support of research, innovation and development as it remains the most compelling strategy for accelerating sustainable growth.
“In our bid to promote the institutionalization of Research and Development, we have sought effective support for impactful research and innovation through partnership between tertiary institutions/research institutes, industry and government as a national response towards technological revolution, human capital development and sustainable economic competitiveness.
“The TETFAIR Programme strategically prioritizes its areas of focus to support national aspiration as follows: Agriculture and Food Technology, Environment, Energy and Circular Economy, Health and Accessibility, Information Communication Technology, Security, Transportation, Aviation and Shipping and Streamlining/Improving Production Process”, he said.
Minister of State for Education, Yusuf Sununu, noted that Nigerian researchers were engaged in multi-prong efforts to tackle the nation’s challenges, including the development of vaccines for preventable diseases in Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto.
Sununu called on the Fund to scale up copyright ownership protection for the protection of the innovations developed by Nigerians to avoid losing copyright ownership of their products and services.
The Minister also called for collaboration between the Ivory Towers, the industry and other stakeholders to ensure the marketability of the products churned out by Nigerian researchers and innovators.
On his part, the Minister of Labour, Simon Lalong, who described the fair as a celebration of the remarkable innovative achievements over the years, said the scheme serves as a platform for researchers and innovators to showcase their groundbreaking ideas to transform them into tangible solutions.
Lalong expressed confidence that the valuable experiences gained through the TETFAIR will empower Nigerian scholars to contribute significantly to their fields at home and internationally.
