The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, says the federal government is establishing 41 University Innovation Pods (UniPods) across tertiary institutions to transform research and innovation into jobs, investment and economic opportunities.

Mr Alausa said this in a statement issued by his special adviser on media and communications, Ikharo Attah, on Wednesday.

The minister said the initiative was part of President Bola Tinubu’s vision to use education, technology, research and innovation to transform Nigeria from a resource-based to a knowledge-based economy.

He said the UniPods were designed to ensure that research conducted in Nigerian universities moved beyond academic purposes to the development of marketable products, services and solutions.

According to him, eight UniPods have either been commissioned or are ready for commissioning, while three are already operational at the University of Lagos, Nasarawa State University and Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike.

Mr Alausa listed other specialised centres to include the Blue Economy UniPod in Akwa Ibom, AgroTech UniPod at Benue State University, Resilience Tech UniPod in Borno, GovTech UniPod at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and Industrial Tech UniPod in Plateau.

He said the success of the initiative would not be measured by the buildings and equipment provided but by the solutions, businesses, jobs and economic value generated from them.

The minister cited the MineTech UniPod at Nasarawa State University, where researchers had developed geospatial maps showing deposits of lithium, gold and bauxite, including their locations and depths.

He said such innovations could create major economic opportunities if investors were connected with researchers and provided with appropriate pathways to commercialise their discoveries.

Mr Alausa said the Federal Ministry of Education, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Tech4Dev, was working towards establishing about 41 UniPods in the coming years.

He stressed the need for the centres to become financially sustainable enterprises rather than remain dependent on grants.

The minister said the UniPods would operate under an appropriate governance framework being developed by the ministry and UNDP.

He added that eligible centres would be able to establish commercial accounts in line with existing government guidelines for university research centres.

He explained that part of the revenue generated by the centres could be retained for their sustainability, while another portion would support targeted technological development in their host universities.

Mr Alausa assured that the Federal Ministry of Education would continue to work with UNDP, Tech4Dev, universities and other partners to make the UniPods sustainable centres of innovation, enterprise and economic opportunity.

He said the ministry would pursue effective governance and financing arrangements to enable the centres to generate and responsibly manage resources, attract investment and support their host institutions.

The minister said the ultimate goal was to ensure that the Federal Government’s investments in education and technology translated into practical research, viable businesses, jobs and highly skilled young Nigerians capable of driving Nigeria’s transition to a knowledge-based economy.

The Minister of State for Education, Suwaiba Ahmad, said the UniPods should be positioned as instruments for accelerating Nigeria’s industrialisation rather than being viewed solely as academic facilities.

Ms Ahmad urged universities to expose students and researchers to industrialisation and commercialisation, stressing the need to transform innovative ideas into products, services and businesses capable of contributing to national development.

She also said students and researchers from universities other than those hosting the UniPods should be allowed to access the facilities, subject to appropriate procedures.

The UNDP Resident Representative in Nigeria, Elsie Attafuah, commended Alausa for positioning education as a driver of jobs, competitiveness and innovation.

Ms Attafuah said the changing global development landscape required countries to generate their own wealth and competitiveness.

She described the UniPods as instruments for advancing Nigeria’s reform agenda, creating jobs and helping citizens realise their potential.

She said UNDP was ready to facilitate South-South cooperation, including possible engagement with India, while strengthening the network among the UniPods and supporting their governance, financing and sustainability.

(NAN)