The Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology (FMIST) and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening collaboration aimed at advancing research, innovation, technology development and national transformation.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The commitment was made during a courtesy visit by the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Professor Simon Uchenna Ortuanya, and his delegation to the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr. Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh, SAN, in Abuja.
Speaking during the meeting, Dr. Udeh emphasized the need for Nigeria to move beyond research outcomes that remain within academic institutions and focus on converting scientific discoveries into commercially viable products and services capable of driving industrial growth, economic diversification, job creation and sustainable national development.
The Minister highlighted the Ministry’s flagship initiative, Energize Commercialization Now (ECoN), which is designed to identify promising innovations, facilitate technology transfer, foster industry partnerships, attract investment and accelerate the commercialization of research outputs.
According to him, the Ministry remains committed to building a robust innovation ecosystem anchored on strategic collaboration among government agencies, universities, industries and development partners.
Dr. Udeh noted that sustainable national development can only be achieved through collective efforts and partnerships among critical stakeholders, adding that the Ministry is prepared to deepen its collaboration with UNN in areas that promote research excellence, technological advancement, innovation commercialization and human capacity development.
Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of UNN, Professor Simon Uchenna Ortuanya, stated that the visit was aimed at exploring strategic areas of collaboration with the Ministry, particularly in Artificial Intelligence, capacity building, engineering, climate science and environmental science.
He commended Dr. Udeh’s leadership and dedication to positioning Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) as a key driver of Nigeria’s development agenda.
Professor Ortuanya also expressed the University’s readiness to partner with the Ministry in developing impactful research and innovation initiatives that will contribute significantly to the country’s socio-economic growth and development.
In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Mukhtar Yawale Muhammad, mni, described the visit as timely, noting that it aligns with ongoing efforts to unlock the value of research outputs generated by Nigerian universities and research institutions.
He stressed the importance of strengthening government-academia collaboration to enhance research and commercialization capacities, ensuring that scientific discoveries are transformed into practical solutions that address national challenges, create employment opportunities and support sustainable economic growth.
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Members of the UNN delegation included the Director of Academic Planning, Professor Anthony A. Attama; Director of Research, Innovation and Development, Professor Fabian I. Ezema; and Director of International Collaborations, Dr. Kelechi E. Nnamani.
The meeting underscored the shared commitment of both institutions to leveraging research, innovation and technology as critical tools for accelerating Nigeria’s development and global competitiveness.
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