R4i 7.0 Recap: The Research for Impact Initiative (R4i) continues to shape the landscape of Research and Development and innovation in Nigerian Academia. R4i is an initiative of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) in collaboration with Innov8 Hub. This initiative converges members of the Nigerian Academia at Innov8 Hub, the epicenter of innovation and start-up incubation in Nigeria.
R4i aims to enhance the research capacities of academics from tertiary institutions across Nigeria and assist them in translating their ideas into innovative solutions aligned with Global Best Practices. Recently, R4i 7.0 brought together academics from Polytechnics nationwide, who arrived at Innov8 Hub on June 19th 2023. During their stay, they leveraged accelerated innovation to tackle societal challenges in line with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.
R4i 7.0: Team Distribution
Participants were grouped into teams to address challenges in their immediate environments and actively applied innovative approaches to address them. The teams included:
- Team Good Health & Well-Being
- Team Industry, Infrastructure & Innovation
- Team Responsible Consumption & Production
- Team Life on Land
R4i 7.0: The Innovations
Team Good Health & Well-Being created ‘Propurity,’ a contactless smart automated UV chamber that actively monitors the waste disposal process, effectively reducing human exposure to infectious diseases.
Team Industry, Infrastructure & Innovation created ReQuip. This innovation is a talent cloud application providing access to a vast database of deeply vetted technicians, artisans, and handymen, tailored to industrial needs.
Team Responsible Consumption & Production introduced Ecocharc, a device that converts paper waste into charcoal without oxygen. Using a briquette-making machine, individuals can transform the waste material into briquettes.
Team Life on Land presented Airllinc. This innovation is a device that filters indoor air to remove particulate matter, creating a healthier living environment.
R4i 7.0: The Closing Event
The closing event of R4i 7.0 witnessed the paradigm shift in academia and the strengthening of the Triple Helix Synergy, with government, academia, and industry representatives in attendance. Dr. Salihu Bakari, Director of R&D at TETFund, commended the initiative and shared TETFund’s projections for the advancement of Research & Development in Nigeria. The closing event showcased pitch videos of the teams’ innovations, and presented certificates to each participant.
The participants’ representative expressed their gratitude, highlighting the lasting positive impression of the R4i initiative. They pledged to carry back the invaluable benefits of R4i to their respective institutions and the broader Nigerian society.
