By Shina Abubakar, Osogbo

OSOGBO — Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Architect Sonny Echono, has stressed the need for deliberate investment in research and innovation to address unemployment, insecurity and other developmental challenges facing Nigeria.

Speaking on Wednesday while delivering a lecture titled “Driving Development Through Research and Innovation” at the Oduduwa Hall of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Echono said Nigeria’s numerous challenges provide opportunities for innovation-driven transformation.

According to him, sustainable solutions to unemployment, insecurity, hunger, healthcare challenges, industrial underdevelopment and technological dependence can only be achieved through sustained investment in research and innovation systems tailored to local realities.

“Addressing issues such as unemployment, insecurity, hunger, healthcare limitations, industrial underdevelopment and technological dependence requires sustained investment in research and innovation systems that generate practical solutions suited to local realities.

“Nigeria’s sustainable development largely depends on how effectively we leverage knowledge, innovation and technology to grow the economy, expand opportunities, create jobs and wealth, develop new products and services, and improve the well-being of our people. This is essential for national growth, competitiveness and long-term stability,” he said.

Echono also commended President Bola Tinubu for prioritising research funding and innovation, noting that the administration’s support has strengthened efforts to reposition tertiary institutions as centres of research and development.

“The education family will be eternally grateful to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his laser-beam focus on this endeavour,” he stated.

He explained that TETFund’s interventions are increasingly focused on enhancing the research and development capacity of tertiary institutions through research grants, academic staff development, innovation hubs, commercialisation initiatives and entrepreneurship programmes.

According to him, these interventions are helping to strengthen Nigeria’s research and innovation ecosystem while positioning higher institutions as active contributors to national development.

Earlier in his remarks, the Vice-Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University, Simeon Bamire, said the lecture provided an opportunity to deliberate on issues that could deepen research and innovation and accelerate the country’s development.

He expressed optimism that the discussions would generate ideas capable of advancing Nigeria’s quest for sustainable growth and development.