TETFund Research Fair To Showcase 400 Innovations, Attract Global Partners
By Alice Etuka, Abuja
The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) is set to showcase between 350 and 400 research innovations from Nigerian universities, polytechnics, colleges of education and private inventors at its 2026 National Research Fair and Exhibition.
Chairman of the Fair and Exhibition Committee, Engr. Umar Bindir, disclosed this while fielding questions from journalists at the sideline of the committee’s meeting in Abuja on Thursday.
According to him, the event was designed to transform research outputs into commercially viable products, create jobs and stimulate economic growth.
Bindir, who is also the Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Bindir Knowledge Centre, Yola, said the committee had received between 4,000 and 5,000 applications from across the country, out of which about 350 to 400 innovations were selected after a rigorous screening process.
He explained that the selection focused on functional research outputs capable of addressing practical challenges, rather than projects still at the preliminary research stage.
Additionally, he said the innovations cover critical sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, sanitation, housing, clothing and other areas with potential to improve livelihoods and strengthen the Nigerian economy.
He said the fair would provide a platform for researchers and inventors to connect with investors, industry players, business development experts and relevant government agencies to facilitate the commercialisation of their innovations.
Bindir noted that agencies responsible for intellectual property protection, including patent, trademark and industrial design authorities, would offer free advisory services to inventors on protecting their innovations.
He added that organisations such as the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), National Directorate of Employment (NDE), Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) would also participate.
Their involvement, he said, would help inventors understand business registration, product standardisation, regulatory requirements and other processes necessary to transform research findings into sustainable businesses.
The committee chairman further disclosed that the fair would feature deal rooms to encourage partnerships between inventors, financial institutions and investors, noting that collaboration was essential to moving innovations from the laboratory to the marketplace.
He said previous editions had produced about 30 to 40 mature innovations that were already undergoing commercialisation, while several others required additional support in business development and product standardisation.
Reflecting on lessons from the 2024 edition, Bindir said the committee had involved industry representatives more directly in planning the 2026 event to improve participation and strengthen the link between research institutions and the private sector.
He disclosed that the event would also feature an international symposium involving participants from China, India, Canada and Japan, as well as the World Bank, UNESCO and the African Development Bank.
According to him, the international engagement would provide opportunities for knowledge exchange and expose Nigerian innovations to global partnerships and investment opportunities.
Bindir said the exhibition would hold from November 24 to 27 at the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry Trade Fair Complex, along the Abuja Airport Road, while the international symposium would commence on November 25.
He commended TETFund’s Executive Secretary for providing the necessary logistical and administrative support to ensure the successful organisation of the event.
Furthermore, he urged Nigerians, particularly investors, business owners, industry operators and policymakers, to attend the fair and explore opportunities to support local innovations.
Bindir said the initiative aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s economic prosperity agenda, stressing that Nigeria must move beyond consuming imported technologies to developing and commercialising homegrown innovations capable of creating wealth and employment.
