- FG to Invest $500m Yearly in Research, Innovation Development
- Says $500m Research Fund Will Unlock Nigeria’s Innovation Potential
- Tightens Rules on Honorary Degrees
The Federal Government has approved a new $500 million annual funding initiative aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s research and innovation sector and bringing it in line with global standards.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the initiative, known as the National Research and Innovation Development Fund, is expected to provide sustainable support for research activities, innovation, and the commercialisation of discoveries from universities, research institutes, and industries across the country.
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Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, disclosed this while briefing State House correspondents on decisions reached during the April 30 Federal Executive Council meeting chaired by President Bola Tinubu.
According to Alausa, the new fund is designed to tackle long-standing challenges in Nigeria’s research system, including weak coordination, duplication of efforts, and poor funding structures.
“This is a game-changer. If Nigeria wants to become a $1 trillion economy, we must unleash the potential of our researchers and innovators,” the minister said.
He explained that the fund would support research projects in universities, government institutions, and the private sector through a transparent and competitive process based on merit and national relevance.
The agency overseeing the fund will operate under the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology and will be managed by a chief executive officer alongside three executive directors and a general counsel.
Technical committees and expert panels will evaluate proposals, while beneficiary institutions will be expected to submit annual reports and meet set performance targets.
Alausa added that the fund would receive about $500 million yearly through a dedicated first-line charge, with oversight from the National Council on Research and Innovation chaired by the Vice President.
The council is expected to include ministers, academics, research organisations, and representatives of the private sector.
He further disclosed that the Federal Executive Council has directed the Attorney-General of the Federation to prepare an executive bill for submission to the National Assembly.
The minister noted that the initiative would help streamline existing research efforts while focusing on critical national priorities such as food security, healthcare, and environmental sustainability.
Alausa also announced that the Federal Executive Council approved a new policy regulating the award and use of honorary degrees by Nigerian universities.
According to him, the policy is intended to curb the abuse, politicisation, and commercialisation of honorary awards.
He stressed that honorary degree recipients must not present such awards as earned academic qualifications or use the title “Dr” in official settings.
Only universities with active PhD programmes will be allowed to confer honorary degrees, while all awards must clearly state “honorary” or “honoris causa.”
The minister warned that any misrepresentation of honorary degrees would be treated as academic fraud.
He added that the National Universities Commission will monitor compliance and sanction institutions that fail to follow the new rules.
Minister of State for Education, Suwaiba Ahmad, said the policy provides official legal backing for the Keffi Declaration, which was earlier developed by Nigerian vice-chancellors as a guideline for honorary degree awards.
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