The Federal Government has announced plans to establish 41 University Innovation Pods, known as UniPods, across tertiary institutions as part of efforts to transform research and innovation into jobs, investment and measurable economic value.

The Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, disclosed this during a meeting with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and seven vice chancellors on the UNDP Innovation Hub.

Alausa said the initiative was aligned with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision of using education, technology, research and innovation to move Nigeria from a resource-based economy to a knowledge-based economy and support the ambition of building a $1 trillion economy.

He said eight UniPods had either been commissioned or were ready for commissioning, while three were already operational at the University of Lagos, Nasarawa State University and Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike.

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

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

He said the government was determined to move Nigerian universities beyond research conducted mainly for academic promotion to a system where research moves from the laboratory to the market.

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

He said such research could create significant economic opportunities if investors were effectively connected with researchers and given the necessary pathways to commercialise their discoveries.

Alausa noted that the government had already reduced some of the risks associated with commercialisation by providing infrastructure, equipment and technical capacity, stressing that private investment and market deployment should now become the next phase.

He disclosed that the Federal Ministry of Education, in partnership with UNDP and Tech4Dev, was working towards establishing about 41 UniPods over the coming years.

The Minister said the centres must evolve into financially sustainable enterprises rather than remain dependent on grants, adding that they should generate revenue, support their host universities and attract highly skilled talent.

He explained that the Ministry and UNDP were developing an appropriate governance framework for the UniPods, while eligible centres would be able to establish commercial accounts in accordance with existing government guidelines governing university research centres.

Alausa added that part of the revenue generated could be retained by the UniPods to sustain their operations, while another portion would support targeted technological development in their host universities.

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

She urged universities to expose students and researchers to industrialisation and commercialisation, stressing that the focus should be on transforming innovative ideas into products, services and businesses.

Professor Ahmad also called for the facilities to be accessible to students and researchers from universities beyond the institutions hosting the UniPods, subject to appropriate procedures.

She described the initiative as a national opportunity for Nigerian students with innovative ideas and the capacity to contribute to the country’s development.

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

Attafuah said the changing global development environment required countries to build their own wealth and competitiveness, describing the UniPods as important instruments for advancing Nigeria’s reform agenda, creating jobs and helping citizens realise their potential.

She said UNDP was prepared to facilitate South-South cooperation, including possible collaboration with India, while supporting the emerging UniPod network in the areas of governance, financing and sustainability.

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 ultimate objective was to ensure that the Tinubu administration’s investments in education and technology translate into practical research, viable businesses, jobs and highly skilled young Nigerians capable of driving Nigeria’s transition to a knowledge-based economy.