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TETFAIR: TOP GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, ACADEMICS OTHERS AT OPENING EVENT

Top government officials, academics, and others attended the opening event of The TETFund Alliance for Innovative Research- TETFAIR.

The Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation, Dr. Adeleke Mamora, the Executive Secretary TETFund, Architect Sonny Echono, and other top government officials, academics, members of the diplomatic corps and captains of industry arrived at Innov8 Hub on Thursday 14th December 2022, for the opening event of TETFAIR.

TETFAIR, a collaborative initiative of TETFund and Innov8 Hub is a 12-month programme for academics and researchers who intend to turn ideas and research into innovation, solution, and enterprise.

L-R: Neta Hanien, Arc. Sonny Echono, Prof. Abubakar Adamu Rasheed, Meir Dagan, Itzik Ronen

In his remark, the Honourable Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation, Dr. Adeleke Mamora, reassured stakeholders of the Federal Government’s commitment to the advancement of scientific innovation in Nigeria. According to Mamora who was represented by Mrs. Monilola Udoh, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation, TETFAIR is in line with Executive Order No. 5 of President Muhammadu Buhari, which calls for integrating science, technology, and innovation into daily life in order to promote national development.

The Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, declared TETFAIR open. He stated that the project would assist address shortcomings and propose answers that will help Nigeria meet international demands. The Honourable Minister, represented by the Minister of State for Education Goodluck Nanah Opiah, applauded TETFund for the effort and added that developed nations rely on science and technology to achieve their status.

In his keynote address, the Executive Secretary of TETFund gave insight into the TETFAIR initiative in collaboration with Innov8 Hub. Architect Echono indicated that TETFAIR was part of the country’s efforts to institutionalize Research & Development in Nigeria.

“The TETFAIR programme is being conducted by TETFund in collaboration with Innov8 Technology Hub, a firm championing the advancement of Science and Technology Education in Nigeria.”

“The programme is designed to support the advancement of solution-driven research, innovation and sustainable development in Nigeria. Being a year-long programme, TETFAIR is aimed at providing a unique opportunity for our academics and researchers in Nigerian Universities to transform their ideas into market-driven solutions, including the development and fabrication of prototypes.”

“Through the programme, selected teams of researchers and academic staff with promising ideas for innovative solutions in the programme’s areas of focus, are being taken through a journey that combines technology and product development along with venture creation.”

In his address, the Executive Secretary of the NUC Prof. Abubakar Adamu Rasheed, reminded the members of academia present of the government’s mandate to provide infrastructure, tax reduction and multiple waivers to create an enabling environment for members of the academia to conduct research.

The Communications adviser at Innov8 Hub, Deji Ige, intimated to the attendants the core objectives of the Innov8 Hub philosophy.

“In the 3 years of our existence, we have become the epicentre of innovation, invention, solution and start-up incubation in Nigeria; aided considerably by critical collaborations with visionary and resilient partners like the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, the Embassy of the State of Israel in Nigeria, MakeLab, Zell Entrepreneurship and others, who share our vision of inculcating the culture of innovation and venture creation in Nigerians; to gradually transform Nigeria into a start-up nation.

“So far, we have helped Nigerians develop and perfect over 72 prototypes ready for commercialisation, we have mentored over 150 innovators, inventors and venture creators, among whom are academics and researchers. We have been involved in the emergence of 15 solid start-ups.”

TETFAIR: SOCIAL MEDIA FRENZY AS OPENING EVENT APPROACHES

Social media frenzy erupts as the TETFUnd Alliance for Innovative Research-TETFAIR, enters the second week of its Bootcamp phase.

Over the previous days, participants comprising academics and researchers from public Universities in Nigeria, have been left astonished by TETFAIR and the prospects to come over the next 12 months. They have taken to social media to proclaim their elation. The facilitators and resource persons have not been left out of the frenzy as well, with posts on their respective TETFAIR Bootcamp experiences.

On LinkedIn, one participant, Dr. Elias Elemike posted: “a sweet journey begins when you have the passion and you are eager to get to the end.” He also mentioned some of the mentors and facilitators in his post, expressing his gratitude for the knowledge imparted.

Also on LinkedIn, the Director of Programmes & Partnerships at Innov8 Hub, Neta Hainen’s post was quoted: “When your mentees become your mentors, grateful for the opportunity to work with the greatest minds in Nigeria at TETFAIR programme, an initiative of Tertiary Education Trust Fund at Innov8 Hub, Abuja.

On Twitter, one of the mentors, Farmer Samson Ogbole posted: “Humbled to be called upon as a mentor at Innov8 Hub for TETFAIR, a TETFund-funded acado-preneurs, brightest ideas from the lecturers of Nigerian Universities, as we look to turn research into business.”

Facebook wasn’t left out of the social media frenzy, as Team 4 members of TETFAIR Prof. O.T Arogundade, Prof. O.A Isah, and Dr. A. Abayomi-Alli, all working on an innovation ‘Nim Track’, made a collaborative post of their Bootcamp experience on Facebook: “It has been a huge moment of capacity development at the TETFAIR programme, organised by TETFund and Innov8 hub. Our team of professionals has been going through a strategic growth session and maximising the sessions to showcase and improve our solutions.”

Dr. Uloma Onyeka, a specialist in Food & Science Technology from the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, and member of Team 6 in TETFAIR, also took to Facebook to post: “I am personally excited and elevated because of this programme. My academic journey will never be the same again. No, not after what Innov8 experts have loaded me with. Thanks to TETFund and Innov8 Hub.”

TETFAIR: Participants Have Their Say as Bootcamp Enters Day 5

Participants of the TETFAIR Bootcamp have been involved in self-immersing activities and engagements from the very moment they arrived Innov8 Hub, till present. The TETFund Alliance for Innovative Research, TETFAIR, Bootcamp entered its 5th day on Friday the 9th of December 2022g.

TETFAIR, an initiative of TETFund in collaboration with Innov8 Hub, is a 12-month-long capacity-building programme, created for academics and researchers from Universities in Nigeria, to translate ideas into Innovation, Solution & Enterprise.

Participants in the Bootcamp have been engrossed in activities leading to a crescendo of impactful engagements, with courses by mentors and facilitators.

Participants from selected teams have given their views on the activities of the TETFAIR Bootcamp, lauding the TETFund initiative. They also spoke about the prospects of the year-long programme, which would be conducted both in person and virtually at different periods.

Speaking to Dr. Adeniji Oluwasola David from the Department of Computer Science at the University of Ibadan, he described his experience at the Bootcamp as “wonderful, interesting, captivating, and motivating.” He was also full of praise for Innov8 Hub, professing the global standards of the infrastructure & environment, as well as the facilitators, mentors, and staff, whom he described as “supportive, insightful, and efficient.” He also gave a snippet of his team’s project, a health-based idea with the goal of reducing deafness to the barest minimum.

Another participant of the TETFAIR Bootcamp, Nneoma Aneke from the department of Agricultural and Bioresources Engineering at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, described her Bootcamp experience as “phenomenal and interesting.” She was at a loss for further adjectives to quantify her amazing experience. She also lauded the fantastic environment, top-notch staff, and resource persons of TETFAIR. On the initiative, she claimed it was the best collaboration she has seen in academia, as it has helped build her capacity to streamline ideas into pragmatic structures. At the end of the Bootcamp, the Agric & Bioresources lecturer said she would take back to her institution, the knowledge transfer, networking, relationships built, and the light she has received, in order to shine it in her institution and pass the torch to the upcoming generation of scholars, researchers, and academics.

The TETFAIR Bootcamp participants’ activities is only a fragment of the 12-month capacity-building engagement of the TETFAIR initiative, where members of academia are expected to translate ideas into Innovation, Solution & Enterprise.

TETFAIR BEGINS AT INNOV8 HUB

The TETFund Alliance for Innovative Research (TETFAIR) commenced on the 5th of December 2022, at Innov8 Hub. TETFAIR is a year-long initiative of TETFund, in collaboration with Innov8 Hub. It is a programme created for academics and researchers from Government-owned Universities across Nigeria with innovative ideas.

After a rigorous process conducted by international experts, participants were selected with the goal of translating research into solutions, in accordance with global best practices.

TETFAIR began with an introduction detailing the overview of the programme’s core objectives, led by Neta Hanien and Uri Mestechkin. The participants were briefed on the scheme of things and introduced to the act of pitching, aided by the display of a sample video for a successful pitch. They were also urged to be accurate with facts and statistics in the process of drafting their pitches.

The Heads of the Department at Innov8 Hub and their respective units were introduced to the participants, who were subsequently assigned to work with different teams for the duration of the programme.

Participants went through courses on ‘Venture Creation within the Nigerian context’, ‘The Problem and Where do Good Ideas come from’, and concluded the day working with their respective teams.

RESEARCH FOR IMPACT 3.2 COMES TO A CLOSE AT INNOV8 HUB

On November 25th 2022, the Research for Impact workshop 3.2, initiated by TETFund in collaboration with Innov8 Hub, came to an end.

Over a 10-day period, members of academia from different Polytechnics in Nigeria were participants in the workshop. During the course of their stay, the lecturers went through the comprehensive process of converting research into prototype development. They selected challenges based on the SDGs and worked in teams to find solutions.

At the end of the workshop:

A Bio-Briquette Making Machine was created by TEAM Climate Action. It is a superior fuel substitute to firewood or charcoal that burns cleaner, longer, and more effectively.

An In-Situ Decision Support System was developed by TEAM End Hunger. The system allows farmers in both rural and urban areas to manage their crops effectively.

TEAM Infrastructure developed a Flood Warning System for the foresight and potential prevention of floods.

TEAM Good Health’s innovation ClosR, is a web-based application created for timely intervention in cases of drug or substance abuse among Nigerians, with a focus on the younger generation.  

The Executive Secretary of TETFund Architect Sony Echono, represented by the director of the E.S’ office Architect Uche Nwogu, praised the initiative under the guidance of the Executive Secretary. He also encouraged the participants to carry with them the innovation spirit back to their respective institutions.

Speaking on behalf of Innov8 Hub, His Excellency, Mr. Edward Singhatey was full of praise for the Research for impact initiative. He commended TETFund, congratulated the participants for being totally involved in the process, and also lauded Innov8 Hub staff for their role played throughout the workshop. At the close of the event, the R4i participants were presented with certificates, signaling the end of their workshop.

Research For Impact Workshop Comes To Close At Innov8 Hub

The Research for Impact workshop 3.1, initiated by TETFund in collaboration with Innov8 Hub, came to an end on the 18th of November, 2022.

Over an 11-day period, members of academia from different Polytechnics across Nigeria, were participants in the workshop. These lecturers went through the holistic process of turning research into prototype development over the duration of their stay. The participants chose challenges based on SDGs, and were shared into teams to turn problems into solutions.

At the end of the workshop:

TEAM Quality Education developed a Vibrotactile Telemetry; a mobile application that uses Morse codes to aid the learning of visually and hearing-impaired students in primary and secondary schools.

TEAM Energy developed a Home Energy Consumption Limiter & Monitor, for the provision of affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy.

TEAM End Hunger’s innovation was a Solar-Powered Agricultural Spraying Machine, developed to tackle the labour associated with small-scale farming; with a special focus on women in rural areas.

TEAM Clean Water & Sanitation developed a Mini Water Treatment Plant, to provide clean and safe water.

The Executive Secretary of TETFund, Architect Sony Echono, represented by the director of the E.S’ office, Architect Uche Nwogu, challenged the participants not to stop the process of innovation, and also reminded them to continuously build their innovative capacities.

Speaking on behalf of Innov8 Hub, His Excellency, Mr. Edward Singhatey was full of praise for the Research for impact workshop. He commended TETFund for the initiative, congratulated the participants for being fully immersed in the process, and also lauded Innov8 Hub staff for the role played throughout the workshop.

At the close of the event, the R4i participants were presented with their certificates, signalling the end of their workshop.

Research for impact workshop 3.1
Research for impact workshop

Research for Impact Workshop 3.1 Commences

18 academics and researchers from polytechnics across Nigeria commenced the second batch of the Research for Impact (R4i) capacity-building initiative of TETFUND, in collaboration with Innov8 Hub, on the 14th of November, 2022.

At the opening session, the General Manager of Innov8 Hub gave a brief welcome address, urging participants to be involved in every stage of their innovation, research, and development journey.

Subsequently, the Head of Product Design shared insights on the Hub’s activities with the new participants. He motivated the participants to break limits and explore their innovative minds by sharing some success stories of Innov8 Associates from previous programs of the Hub. He described how Innov8 Hub promotes the Nigerian innovation ecosystem through prototypes developed, the people and mentors who have gone through Innov8 Hub initiatives, resulting in the development and commercialization of their prototypes. The R4i participants were also introduced to Innov8 Hub experts who would engage with them throughout the workshop.

The Head of programs at Innov8 Hub later introduced participants to the core components of the workshop. He spoke about the importance of transforming ideas into solutions; informing participants on the process that would lead to the development of their prototypes.

POLYTECHNIC LECTURERS BEGIN RESEARCH FOR IMPACT WORKSHOP AT INNOV8 HUB

18 lecturers from different polytechnics across Nigeria arrived Innov8 Hub as participants of TETFund Research for Impact (R4i) workshop, in collaboration with Innov8 Hub, Abuja. The Research for Impact workshop is a capacity-building program initiated by TETFund and Innov8 Hub, to groom academics through the processes and procedures of transforming research into solutions and prototypes.

Lecturers brainstorming during day 1 of the Research For Impact workshop

In the course of the workshop, participants would be immersed for 2 weeks in an intensive process of innovation development through Problem Definition, Ideation, Testing, Prototyping, Growing & Scaling Innovation, and Prototype Pitching.

INNOV8 HUB IN COLLABORATION WITH I CHOOSE LIFE FOUNDATION PRESENTS: MY NIGERIAN DREAM 3.0

I Choose Life Foundation in collaboration with Innov8 Hub, hosted the 3rd edition of “My Nigerian Dream”.

This year’s edition, themed “Innovate Tomorrow Today”, was a call for innovators and stakeholders within the Nigerian innovation ecosystem, to make plans for tomorrow by creating innovations today.

Jane Orikri, on behalf of Innov8 Hub, delivered the opening remark, calling participants and guests to action, and apprising them with the activities and initiatives of the Hub. Josiah Owura also of Innov8 Hub, gave a keynote address on moving “ideas to the market”; intimating the audience on the comprehensive process it takes to get this done. One of the Innovators of Innov8 Hub, Kabir Abdulrazaq, pitched the prototype of his innovation “Gas/Solar Egg Incubator” to the fascination of attendants.

The Hon. Minister of State for Science & Technology, with staff of Innov8 Hub

Other speakers included Chess Master Tunde Onakoya who spoke on Innovation in Slums; as well as Mr. Idowu Asumah who spoke on Digital Fabrication; Dr. Hope Omeiza spoke on Mental Health and Innovation, and a representative of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Mitchell Ofoyeju, admonished the young generation to desist from substance abuse.

To close the event, the Vice President of Nigeria, represented by the Honourable Minister of State for Science and Technology, Chief Henry Ike Ikoh said he was extremely happy to be at the event and full of emotion that he finally realized Nigeria has a great future. The Honorable Minister, addressing the youngsters in innovation, reiterated that they are not alone on this journey. He pleaded with them not to do anything with emotion or sentiment, but with rational judgment.

Innov8 Hub Pays Courtesy Visit to the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo

Innov8 Hub paid a courtesy visit to the Vice President of Nigeria, His Excellency Professor Yemi Osinbajo the 20th of October, 2022. The team went in company of the Ambassador of the State of Israel to Nigeria, His Excellency Michael Freeman and the deputy chief of missions Inbar Lipman Garden. The essence of the visit was to intimate the Vice President on the success and impact of Innov8 Hub in Nigeria, especially in the Innovation, R&D and Entrepreneurship Ecosystem over the last 2 years; with a focus on the Innovation Fellowship for Aspiring Inventors and Researchers (i-FAIR), an initiative of the Embassy of the State of Israel in Nigeria in collaboration with the Office of the Vice President and Innov8 Hub.

The Vice President, a passionate promoter of innovation, technology and entrepreneurship development, warmly received the delegation and emphasized on further collaborations for National Development.

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