{
  "id": 15776644,
  "title": "TETFund Urges Academics to Turn Research into Practical Innovations",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/20/tetfund-urges-academics-to-turn-research-into-practical-innovations",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-20T17:18:13.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "This Day",
    "slug": "this-day",
    "url": "https://www.thisdaylive.com/2026/10/20/tetfund-urges-academics-to-turn-research-into-practical-innovations/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has called on Nigerian academics to shift from merely publishing research papers to creating practical solutions to societal issues. Sonny Echono, the Executive Secretary of TETFund, emphasized this during the closing ceremony of the 35th cohort of the Research for Impact Initiative (R4i), held in Abuja. This initiative, a collaboration with Innov8 Hub, aims to institutionalize research and development in Nigerian public universities and strengthen the ties between academic research, industry, and government. Echono stressed that investing in local innovations is crucial for Nigeria's future, as the nation must develop its own technologies rather than rely on foreign innovations. He highlighted that technological progress is a key factor in economic growth and that countries must invest in education, research, and innovation to achieve sustainable development. The R4i program aims to transform public tertiary institutions into catalysts for a knowledge-based economy by fostering innovative practices and research solutions. Echono praised Innov8 Hub for offering technical support and guidance to the participating researchers and encouraged them to utilize their acquired knowledge to address challenges within their institutions and communities. He revealed that some innovations from previous R4i editions were displayed at the inaugural TETFund National Research Fair and Exhibition in November 2024, with the next edition scheduled from November 23 to 27, 2026, at the Abuja Trade and Convention Centre. Dr. Deji Ige, the Deputy General Manager of Innov8 Hub, explained that the program seeks to instill a culture where research and development act as the foundation for innovation, entrepreneurship, and national progress. According to Ige, impactful research and development are essential for academia to contribute to technology advancement and must be supported by practical outcomes. He stressed that without the practical implications of research, academic institutions risk stagnation and the loss of their potential to drive societal progress.",
  "summary": "Kuni Tyessi in Abuja The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has urged Nigerian academics and researchers to move beyond publishing scholarly papers to developing practical innovations that address societal challenges",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}