The Federal Government has taken a major step toward innovation-driven economic growth with the inauguration of key committees and the unveiling of the National Research-to-Commercialisation Policy, a strategic framework aimed at converting Nigeria’s research outputs into tangible economic, industrial and social value.
The Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, CON, inaugurated the Steering Committee and the Policy Drafting Committee in Abuja, describing the initiative as a critical intervention to unlock the full value of publicly funded research. He noted that despite significant investments in universities, research institutes and specialised agencies, many research outcomes have remained largely underutilised.
According to Dr. Alausa, the new policy establishes clear and structured pathways for translating research findings beyond academic publications into market-ready products, services and scalable solutions. He explained that it will institutionalise collaboration among government, academia, industry and financing institutions, while also strengthening incentives for innovation, protecting intellectual property, safeguarding public interest and ensuring measurable returns on public investment.
The Minister further announced robust Federal Government support for the initiative, including ₦2 billion earmarked in the 2026 budget for the Research, Innovation and Commercialisation Committee (RICC), an additional ₦3 billion operational budget for RICC activities, a ₦50 million Student Grant Venture Capital Initiative, and various institutional innovation grants.
Also speaking at the event, the Honourable Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad, described the policy as a significant milestone in repositioning research as a key driver of national competitiveness, economic diversification and sustainable growth.
The newly inaugurated committees are tasked with developing a comprehensive policy framework and submitting a final National Research-to-Commercialisation Policy to the Federal Government for adoption.
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