By Ahmad Suleiman Ramat
The Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Transportation, Daura, Professor Umar Adam Katsayal (mni), has called for stronger collaboration among universities, research institutes, government agencies and the private sector to promote the commercialisation of research outputs and accelerate national development.
VC Seeks Stronger Research Collaboration
Professor Katsayal made the call while speaking at the National Commercialisation Intelligence and Ecosystem Engagement Workshop held in Kano.
The workshop was supported by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) and the Federal Ministry of Education.
The Vice-Chancellor stressed the need for Nigerian universities to move beyond conducting research primarily for academic purposes and focus more on developing innovative, market-driven solutions capable of addressing societal challenges and contributing to economic growth.
Universities Must Turn Research into Commercial Opportunities
According to Professor Katsayal, effective collaboration between academia, research institutions, industry stakeholders and policymakers is critical to transforming research findings into commercially viable products and services.
He said universities should create stronger links with the private sector and other relevant institutions to ensure that valuable research outputs move from laboratories and academic publications into practical applications that can benefit society.
“The primary objective is to commercialize research projects in our universities by creating an enabling ecosystem that supports innovation, entrepreneurship, and technology transfer,” Professor Katsayal said.
Commercial Research Can Boost Jobs and Investment
The Vice-Chancellor noted that the commercialisation of research could strengthen the relevance of higher education institutions while creating employment opportunities, attracting investment and improving Nigeria’s competitiveness in the global knowledge economy.
He explained that universities have an important role to play in developing solutions to national challenges and ensuring that research and innovation contribute directly to economic development.
Professor Katsayal further emphasised the importance of building an ecosystem that encourages entrepreneurship, protects intellectual property and facilitates the transfer of technology from academic institutions to industry.
FUT Daura VC Commends TETFund and Education Ministry
The Vice-Chancellor commended TETFund and the Federal Ministry of Education for organising the workshop, describing the initiative as timely and relevant to Nigeria’s efforts to strengthen research, innovation and technology development.
He said sustained support for research commercialisation would help deepen innovation, improve intellectual property management and strengthen partnerships between universities and industries.
Experts Explore Pathways for Research Commercialisation
The workshop brought together academics, researchers, innovation experts, government officials and representatives of the private sector to examine practical strategies for converting research outcomes into commercially sustainable ventures.
Participants also explored ways to strengthen collaboration among key stakeholders and create an enabling environment where research and innovation can contribute more effectively to national development.
The engagement is expected to support efforts to bridge the gap between academic research and industry by promoting stronger partnerships capable of transforming research findings into products, services and enterprises with measurable economic and social impact.
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