The Federal Government has inaugurated key committees and unveiled the National Research-to-Commercialisation Policy aimed at translating Nigeria’s research outputs into tangible economic, industrial and social value.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, CON, disclosed this on Saturday in Abuja during the inauguration of the Steering Committee and the Policy Drafting Committee, according to a statement issued by the Director of Press and Public Relations of the ministry, Mrs. Boriowo Folasade.
Alausa said the initiative aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and represents a critical intervention to unlock the economic and developmental value of publicly funded research, noting that despite substantial investments in universities, research institutes and specialised agencies, many research outcomes remained underutilised.
He explained that the policy provides structured pathways for moving research beyond academic publications into products, services and scalable solutions capable of driving growth and job creation.
According to him, the framework will institutionalise collaboration among government, academia, industry and financing institutions, strengthen incentives for innovation, protect intellectual property, safeguard public interest and ensure measurable returns on public investment.
The minister announced Federal Government support for the initiative, including a ₦2 billion allocation in the 2026 budget for the Research, Innovation and Commercialisation Committee (RICC), a ₦3 billion operational budget for RICC activities, a ₦50 million Student Grant Venture Capital Initiative and institutional innovation grants.
In her remarks, the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad, described the initiative as a milestone in repositioning research as a key driver of economic growth, competitiveness and sustainable development.
The committees are expected to develop a comprehensive framework and submit a final National Research-to-Commercialisation Policy to the Federal Government for adoption.
