As part of the mandate of establishing an ecosystem of innovation, start-up incubation and venture creation through partnerships & collaboration, Innov8 Hub extended a cordial welcome to David Greene, the Acting Ambassador of the United States of America to Nigeria, and his team, as they paid a courtesy visit.
Neta Hanien, Head of Programs & Partnerships at Innov8 Hub, gave an overview of the Hub’s mission. She also unveiled the Hub’s programs, milestones, and initiatives. Both teams, fueled by a shared vision for progress and sustainable development, explored potential collaborations. These partnerships & collaboration can foster innovation, venture creation & entrepreneurship in Nigeria.
Beyond the Boardroom: Unveiling the Powerhouse of Innovation
Stepping beyond the conference room, Ambassador Greene and his team embarked on a comprehensive tour of the Hub. They were guided through the facilities at the Hub. They also where they witnessed first-hand, the transformative power of innovation and sustainable practices.
A Spark Across Borders: Igniting a Future of Collaboration
Ambassador Greene’s visit wasn’t just a courtesy call; it was an impactful moment that displayed the immense potential that lies in cross-border collaboration. It was a testament to the fact that when different corners of the world come together, the possibilities are truly boundless. Innov8 Hub is eager to share its journey with the world and weave collaborative threads that extend far beyond its walls.
The idea that brought me to TETFAIR can be traced back to my studio, just before my appointment as a lecturer at Nnamdi Azikiwe University. In Nigeria’s textile industry, small and medium-sized textile cottage enterprises are plagued by the absence of fast-paced and effective drying and curing methods, leading to inefficient production, inconsistent quality, and inflated cost. In my quest to develop a solution to this challenge, I needed a platform where my idea could be transformed into a tangible solution and subsequently into a viable enterprise. Two years later, I was informed of a Call for Application to TETFAIR. I applied with my Team and my idea. Fortunately, my Team was selected to participate in TETFAIR with the objective of developing a speedy, enhanced, and cost-effective textile drying bed.
During the Market Validation phase of TETFAIR, we engaged potential buyers and users through in-person interactions, generating valuable financial insights. Progressing to the second bootcamp, our innovation evolved into a field-tested prototype, demonstrating an impressive 60% efficiency enhancement compared to conventional drying methods.
Today, we stand proud to unveil a textile printing dryer that not only expedites drying time but also catalyses ink adhesion, propelling mass production. The development of this Textile Dryer would not have been possible without the TETFAIR initiative and its enriching content. Through the guidance of mentors and experts at TETFAIR, we have been able to transform a fledgling idea into an innovative solution, and we are optimistic about establishing a successful venture from it.
My heartfelt gratitude to TETFund and Innov8 Hub for this initiative that has sparked a paradigm shift in my academic career and has instilled in me the drive to continuously integrate innovation into my future research endeavours.
My TETFAIR journey began out of necessity. The strain placed on animals, farmers and researchers during the routine measurement of the morphometric characteristics of poultry birds is intolerable. These measurements are crucial for making informed decisions on the growth, development, and health status of birds and the poultry business by extension. The archaic method of measurement with manual equipment is not only time-consuming but also invasive. It is evident that a change is required, and poultry bird measurements should be done using a non-invasive technique.
I decided to turn my vision into reality by applying to TETFAIR alongside my Team, with our project “ANiMeDRig”. This innovation is an automatic, digital, non-invasive, animal measuring device that can optimize data collection and processing, for easier livestock management and decision-making.
At TETFAIR, we went through comprehensive processes and procedures of translating our ideas into innovation and enterprise. To gauge the importance and commercial viability of our project, we learnt how to emphasise the size and impact of the challenge we intended solving, using various search tools. Market validation was a crucial step, and we conducted surveys among commercial poultry farmers in Abeokuta and Ibadan. This confirmed the need for our device, as respondents expressed their eagerness to be patrons when ANiMeDRig is available in the market. The feedback from this phase also helped us fine-tune our prototype. TETFAIR emphasised how our device would contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly from the perspectives of SDGs 1, 2, and 8.
During our journey through TETFAIR, we explored the art of pitching our product to prospective investors. One of the most significant breakthroughs came when AGRITED Nigeria Limited agreed to provide us with space for prototype testing on their farm and expressed interest in adopting our device once it is ready.
We also received guidance on creating our business models from our innovation, focusing on both Business-to-Consumer (B2C) and Business-to-Business (B2B) approaches. In B2C, we engaged directly with our customers- commercial poultry farmers and researchers. We intend to sell the device to them, provide installation as well as offer subscription-based services. In recognition of the scarcity of poultry data and high demand from researchers and organisations, we aim to provide access to poultry farming data through our cloud database.
At TETFAIR, we embarked on the process of registering our device as an Intellectual Property (IP). This decision was made after comprehensive capacity building on intellectual property rights, which confirmed our device’s eligibility for protection. Of course, our journey was not without challenges; our major hurdle was related to software programming, particularly the need to accurately capture and process data within a very short period. Thankfully, the experts of Innov8 Hub provided us with the necessary support and guidance to overcome these challenges.
In conclusion, we extend our heartfelt appreciation to TETFund and Innov8 Hub for providing us with this remarkable opportunity.
My TETFAIR journey commenced when a team of researchers from Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, conceived the idea of utilising basalt-based composite material for the production of vehicle brake pads. In the operation of vehicles, few components carry as much significance and importance as the brake pad.
Brake pad production in Nigeria languishes as industrialists heavily rely on importing raw materials for production. Statistics revealed by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) disclosed that an average of 18.5 million brake pads were imported into Nigeria from 2000 to 2011. The consequences are profound, as manufacturers have succumbed to the burden of exorbitant import costs.
Despite the immense potential within this industry, my team faced an uneven playing field where our idea couldn’t progress because we lacked the necessary technical guidance and entrepreneurial mentorship. The dynamics changed when we heard about TETFAIR. We applied to TETFAIR with a mission to explore locally sourced alternative materials for brake pad production, focusing on Basalt, which is abundant in Jos, Plateau State. We were selected to participate and our exciting TETFAIR journey of translating our idea into innovation and solution began at Innov8 Hub.
During the Market Validation phase of TETFAIR, my team received positive feedback from 3 prominent transportation companies in Nigeria. The consensus was resounding, confirming that there is a huge demand for locally-produced brake pads that can favourably compete with imported brake pads which are mostly of low quality.
Working in synergy with mentors and experts of TETFAIR, we traversed the needed processes and procedures of product development, prototyping and venture creation that led our product into becoming a viable solution for the Nigerian automobile industry, that is simultaneously becoming a venture that creates employment and boosts the nation’s economy.
In conclusion, my TETFAIR journey has instigated a paradigm-shift in my career; from being just an academic to an innovator, a venture creator and a patent holder. This initiative couldn’t have come at a better time, for the nation, the academia and the industry. At TETFAIR, we experienced firsthand how the deployment of expertise, technology, and entrepreneurial mentorship was precisely what we needed to actualise the dream of manufacturing brake pads with locally sourced materials, poised to match global benchmarks.
My heartfelt gratitude to TETFund and Innov8 Hub for championing this cause. The prospects and potentials within TETFAIR are massive, and if sustained, the outcome will be national development to unimaginable heights.
Reflecting on my TETFAIR experience, I have undergone a significant shift in mindset—from a primarily research-based approach to one that leans more towards innovation and enterprise. TETFAIR acted as a catalyst for translating my academic ideas into a real-world business context. TETFAIR upheld the principles of the Triple Helix Synergy that emphasises collaboration among the Government, the Academia and the Industry. It provided me with a platform to engage with industry experts and government officials, fostering an environment where my ideas could be translated into innovation, solution and enterprise.
As a member of Team 5, I embarked on my TETFAIR journey with great hope and anticipation. My Team developed “Blue Bird”, an agricultural drone equipped with an siren alarm system that ward-off birds from farms.
Avian infestations pose a persistent challenge, casting a shadow over the abundance of crops and grains that should sustain communities in Nigeria and beyond. These unwelcome birds relentlessly invade grain fields, causing substantial economic losses, compromising food security, and leaving farmers more vulnerable than ever. Our innovation was not just conceptual; it was put to test and proven effective during testing. Farmers who participated in these tests provided positive feedback, validating the drone’s potential to mitigate losses in farms caused by birds.
The “Blue Bird” innovation stands as a testament to TETFAIR’s success in bridging the gap between academic research and practical solutions.
The role of mentors at TETFAIR cannot be overemphasised. The support, commitment, dedication, and resilience of the mentors who guided and pushed us to our limits cannot go without recognition. They not only shared their expertise but also instilled a sense of belief in the untapped opportunities within the nation, encouraging us to contribute to development within and beyond our borders.
My gratitude to TETFund for spearheading TETFAIR. I recognise the importance of initiatives like this and wish they were introduced earlier. The opportunity provided by TETFAIR has not only allowed me to explore my entrepreneurial potential but has also contributed to addressing societal challenges with “Made in Nigeria” innovations.
