Tetfund, UNDP Partner to Boost Innovation in Nigerian Universities

The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) are strengthening their collaboration to expand innovation hubs and boost youth-led innovation in Nigerian universities.

This renewed partnership was reaffirmed during a visit by a UNDP delegation to TETFund headquarters in Abuja, where both parties agreed to align efforts in innovation, research commercialization, and infrastructure development across tertiary institutions.

Executive Secretary of TETFund, Sonny Echono, said the partnership is timely, given Nigeria’s young and innovative population. He noted that TETFund is currently supporting over 60 innovation hubs and aims to integrate them with UNDP-backed centres for greater impact.

“We started with 18 and are scaling to 68 this year. We’re working with institutions to integrate local industries like Panteka in Kaduna and Computer Village in Lagos for practical training. This aligns perfectly with your eight hubs,” he said.

Echono added that the collaboration will also target research commercialization, campus energy infrastructure, and technical skills training. He revealed that six regional laboratories are being built across geopolitical zones, and energy efficiency projects are ongoing in at least nine universities.

UNDP Resident Representative in Nigeria, Ms. Elsie G. Attafuah, praised TETFund for its vision and commitment. She said UNDP is supporting innovation centres in eight universities, all expected to be operational by September.

“We are here not just to admire, but to partner in scaling innovation and investing in Nigeria’s future. We must de-risk innovation and improve access to capital for youth-led ventures,” she said.

Both organizations see this partnership as a strategic step toward creating an enabling environment for young innovators and positioning Nigerian universities as drivers of sustainable development and economic transformation.