By Joe Akwarandu, Umuahia
Vice President Senator Kashim Shettima has urged Nigerian universities to evolve beyond traditional teaching and research to become hubs for enterprise development, technology transfer and industrial competitiveness.
Speaking during the inauguration of Nigeria’s first Manufacturing Technology University Innovation Pod (Manu-Tech UniPod) at the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU), Shettima described the initiative as a “strategic investment in Nigeria’s future.” He was represented at the event by the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa.
According to Shettima, “The establishment of the Manu-Tech UniPod reaffirms the Federal Government’s commitment to repositioning higher education as a catalyst for innovation, entrepreneurship, research commercialisation, and job creation.”
The project, a joint venture of the Federal Government, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) and the Abia State Government, is designed to encourage qualitative research and produce more scientists among the student community. Facilitators explained that the UniPod would help academics “look beyond hurried publication of papers just to score points for promotion, and instead focus on research with practical applications.”
In his keynote address titled “Science Meets Enterprise,” Abia State Governor Dr. Alex Otti said: “The siting of the Manu-Tech UniPod in Abia speaks eloquently to the institutional faith UNDP and the Federal Government have reposed in our dear state and the potential it holds as an engine of growth and economic prosperity in the region.”
He added: “Our expectation is that research efforts will be directed at answering questions with practical, everyday applications. This project is a demonstration of faith and willpower by all stakeholders who gave birth to this transformational initiative.”
UN Assistant Secretary-General and UNDP Regional Director for Africa, Mrs. Ahunna Eziakonwa, extolled Otti’s passion for education and development, describing the UniPod as “a practical demonstration of the United Nations’ commitment to touching lives through impactful development programmes.”
UNDP Resident Representative in Nigeria, Ms. Elsie Attafuah, explained: “This launch is part of a broader national innovation ecosystem being developed across Nigeria. The UniPod connects education, research, innovation, enterprise and manufacturing, enabling universities to become drivers of economic growth and global competitiveness.”
Vice-Chancellor of MOUAU, Professor Ursula Akanwa, hailed the commissioning as “a defining moment in the University’s history.”
Meanwhile, Governor Otti reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to leveraging technology and innovation to drive economic growth, improve education and empower entrepreneurs. “Abia will meet the July 31 deadline for uploading student data onto the Digital Nigeria Education Management Information System (D-NEMIS),” he assured.
Dr. Alausa also noted: “Abia is the ideal location for the Manufacturing Technology Innovation Hub, given its long-standing reputation as Nigeria’s manufacturing hub.”
