RICC Workshop Targets Transformation Of Research Outputs Into Products, Jobs, Industries

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The Federal Ministry of Education, through the Research, Innovation and Commercialisation Committee (RICC), in collaboration with the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), has commenced the North-East Zonal National Commercialisation Intelligence and Ecosystem Engagement Workshop in Gombe.

The two-day workshop, holding from 24–25 July 2026, is the fourth in a series of six zonal engagements across Nigeria, designed to transform research outputs into products, job creation and industrial growth.

It is also aimed at strengthening the National Research and Commercialisation Intelligence Ecosystem and accelerating the transformation of research outputs, innovations, and inventions into commercially viable products, services, enterprises, and industries.

The workshop convened policymakers, researchers, academics, industry leaders, investors, development partners, innovation hubs, financial institutions, and other stakeholders from the six North-East states: Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba, and Yobe.

Speaking at the event, Professor Abdullahi Bappah Garkuwa, described the workshop as “laudable and very timely” and enjoined active participation.

Garkuwa also highlighted the enormous potential of Gombe State and the North-East zone.

Speaking at the workshop, Acting Chairman of RICC, Mr. Tamunoibuomi Franklin Okujagu, described the North-East as a region of “immense resilience, untapped innovation potential, and strategic importance” to Nigeria’s economic transformation.

He noted that while the region has made progress in rebuilding institutions, greater collaboration is needed to translate research into solutions for local challenges and drive inclusive growth.

He said the zonal engagements will capture region-specific insights to shape a nationally coordinated Research- to-Commercialisation Framework.

Okujagu said Nigeria’s greatest challenge is not a lack of ideas, but weak linkages between academia, industry, investors, and government.

He announced that the proposed National Commercialisation Intelligence System (NCIS) would serve as a unified digital platform to: “Connect research institutions, hubs, industry, financiers, and policymakers;

Make research more visible and match industry needs with solutions; Facilitate investment and strengthen technology transfer and Provide evidence-based data to accelerate innovation-led industrial development.”

He described the platform as a strategic national asset that will aggregate research outputs, patents, industry needs, funding opportunities, and investment intelligence into a single national repository.

Delivering the keynote “Bridging Research, Innovation and National Prosperity” Professor Seth Akutson, urged a shift from publication-focused research to problem-driven research that creates jobs and solves societal problems.

He called for stronger partnerships through the Triple Helix model of government, academia, and industry, backed by stronger IP protection and targeted innovation financing.

Engr. Umar Bindir, RICC member, presented the National Research-to-Commercialisation (R2C) Initiative.

He explained that the NCIS platform will automatically connect innovators with investors, industries, technology transfer offices, and policymakers to reduce fragmentation and accelerate commercialisation.

Participants at the event commended TETFund for its sustained commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s research and innovation ecosystem.

Through its partnership with the Federal Ministry of Education, TETFund is laying the foundation for a coordinated national ecosystem to accelerate commercialisation, stimulate innovation-driven enterprises, create quality jobs, and position research as a catalyst for sustainable economic growth.

Recall that the Research, Innovation and Commercialisation Committee (RICC) was established by the Federal Ministry of Education and is administered by TETFund.

The Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) provides chairmanship, strategic coordination, and private sector-led technical support.

RICC promotes collaboration among academia, industry, government, investors, and development partners to accelerate the commercialisation of research outputs.