While receiving a team from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja, the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Sonny Echono, stated that UNDP initiatives such as innovation, skill acquisition, and structural reforms align closely with the fund’s current support schemes.
Echono mentioned that TETFund is already funding more than 60 innovation centres in tertiary institutions nationwide and intends to expand this to 68 centres before the end of the year, incorporating them with UNDP-funded centres for broader impact.
“We started with 18 and are scaling to 68 this year. We’re replicating a model in Abuja in partnership with Israeli start-ups, and we’re working with our institutions to integrate local industries, like Panteka in Kaduna and Computer Village in Lagos, for practical training. This aligns perfectly with your eight hubs and allows us to coalesce our efforts,” he stated.
He added that the collaboration would also focus on commercialising research outputs, developing campus energy infrastructure, and promoting technical skills training.
“We have recently set up a national committee on the commercialisation of research outputs. We’re building six regional laboratories across the geopolitical zones, and we’re investing in energy efficiency in at least nine universities this year alone. These projects are strategic and aligned with global trends, especially in renewable energy and the green economy,” he said.
Earlier in the meeting, UNDP’s Resident Representative in Nigeria, Elsie Attafuah, commended the agency’s direction and dedication to innovation led by young people.
She mentioned that the visit followed UNDP’s efforts to provide innovation spaces in eight Nigerian universities.
“By September, we will have established eight spaces. But the goal is not just to create hubs; it is to co-invest in ideas. We must take these ideas to scale. Who will fund these ideas? How do we de-risk innovation and ensure access to capital for youth-led ventures? That’s where this partnership becomes transformative.”
Attafuah highlighted the need for structural change through value chain development and advancement in technology.
