TETFund, NACCIMA sign pact to boost innovation, industrial skills in Nigeria – Businessday NG

Nigeria’s innovation and skills landscape has received a significant lift as the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) and the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to deepen collaboration between academia and industry. The agreement is designed to ensure that research outputs and innovations from tertiary institutions directly meet real sector needs and contribute to broad-based economic growth.

The signing ceremony, held at TETFund Headquarters in Abuja, signals the start of a strategic alliance focused on aligning academic research with industry demands, supporting innovation-driven enterprises and startups, and strengthening national skills development. Both organizations emphasized that the partnership is a response to a long-standing challenge: translating knowledge created in universities and polytechnics into solutions and products that improve productivity, competitiveness, and job creation.

According to TETFund’s Executive Secretary, Sonny S.T. Echono, the MoU offers a clear framework for industry-relevant research and practical training. He noted that the collaboration will help build dynamic innovation ecosystems and expand hands-on opportunities for students and researchers through industrial exposure, training, and mentorship—closing the gap between classroom learning and real-world application.

NACCIMA’s National President, Jani Ibrahim, described the agreement as a major step toward bridging the divide between academia and the private sector. He stressed that Nigeria’s global competitiveness must be anchored on knowledge, technology, skills, and enterprise, adding that this partnership will reinforce the national skills pipeline, support startup development, and enhance productivity across key sectors of the economy.

Key outcomes expected from the collaboration

• Joint innovation via collaborative research projects that tackle real industry problems.
• Creation of industry-focused research and incubation centers to accelerate commercialization of ideas.
• Expanded placements for internships and industrial attachments to build workplace-ready talent.
• Promotion of technology transfer initiatives and support for the digital economy.
• Stronger policy advocacy and continuous knowledge exchange between academia and industry stakeholders.

The initiative aligns with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritizes skills development, innovation, and building a competitive, technology-driven economy. By integrating the capabilities of higher education institutions with the practical needs of businesses, the partnership aims to catalyze new products, services, and processes that can scale across markets.

For students and early-career researchers, the collaboration promises clearer pathways into the workforce through structured internships, mentorships, and applied research engagements. For industry, it offers access to relevant research, a pipeline of skilled talent, and opportunities to co-create solutions with academic partners. For the broader economy, it is expected to foster entrepreneurship, boost productivity, and support sustainable growth.

Both TETFund and NACCIMA reaffirmed their commitment to delivering measurable results from the MoU. They outlined plans to translate the framework into concrete programs and projects, emphasizing accountability, scalability, and long-term impact for Nigeria’s education and industrial ecosystems.