- Tinubu Investing Heavily In Knowledge-Driven Economy – Alausa
- FG Unveils $2m Mine-Tech Innovation Project At Nasarawa University
- Says Nigerian Universities Must Become Centres Of Innovation
The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has said the administration of President Bola Tinubu is pursuing major reforms aimed at transforming Nigeria into a knowledge-driven and innovation-based economy, Eko Hot Blog reports.
Speaking on Friday during the inauguration of the Mine-Tech University Innovation Pod, also known as Mine-Tech UniPod, at Nasarawa State University, Alausa said the Federal Government was investing heavily in education, research and technology to drive economic growth and job creation.
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According to him, the innovation project was supported with a $2 million grant from the United Nations Development Programme, UNDP, alongside funding from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, TETFund.
The minister explained that the Tinubu administration sees education as a critical tool for national development and economic diversification, stressing that universities must move beyond certificate awards to become centres of innovation, industrial growth and wealth creation.
He noted that the newly launched facility would provide students, researchers and entrepreneurs with access to modern laboratories and support systems that would help transform ideas into practical and commercially viable solutions.
Alausa also revealed that mineral samples from different parts of the country were already being analysed at the facility, adding that some findings showed strong hydrocarbon content in certain regions.
“We’re also going to discuss how some of these centres can become Centres of Excellence. We don’t need to replicate the same facility in every state before we can build national capacity,” he said.
The minister encouraged Nigerian youths to embrace innovation, entrepreneurship and technology, saying the future of the country depends on the ability of young people to create solutions to local and national challenges.
He further assured that the Federal Government would continue to support the innovation hub to ensure sustainable funding and effective commercialisation of research outputs.
Alausa commended the partnership between the Federal Government, development organisations and academic institutions in promoting research and technological advancement across the country.
Stakeholders at the event described the Mine-Tech UniPod as a major boost for local capacity development in mineral exploration, processing and value addition, especially in sectors considered important for Nigeria’s economic diversification agenda.
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