NACCIMA President Meets TETFund Team at ACCI, Pledges Stronger Partnership on Research Commercialisation
The President of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Engr. Ibrahim Jani, mni, OON, has reaffirmed the commitment of the organised private sector to strengthening collaboration with the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) towards commercialising research outputs and driving innovation-led economic development in Nigeria. Engr. Jani stated this when he met with members of the TETFund Research and Innovation Fair 2026 team at the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), where he was hosted by the 1st Deputy President of ACCI and National Vice President (India) of NACCIMA,
Prof. Adesoji Adesugba.Speaking during the strategic engagement, Engr. Jani commended TETFund for its significant contributions to the development of tertiary institutions and research infrastructure across the country, noting that the time had come for stronger collaboration between academia and industry to ensure that research findings and innovations generated in Nigerian institutions are translated into commercially viable products and services. He also stressed that Nigeria possesses enormous human capital and intellectual capacity which, if properly harnessed, could contribute significantly to national development, economic transformation and Africa’s growth.
The NACCIMA President explained that the partnership with TETFund provides an important platform for bridging the gap between universities and the private sector. According to him, universities remain major producers of knowledge and human capital, while industry provides the market and practical environment required to transform such knowledge into economic value. He therefore advocated a stronger “handshake” between the academic community and the private sector, noting that the proposed Research and Innovation Fair and Conference would provide an opportunity to showcase Nigerian innovations to industry players, investors and the international community.Engr. Jani further highlighted the importance of moving beyond the traditional university-industry-government model to a broader framework that also recognises the roles of civil society and the environment. He noted that NACCIMA, as the umbrella body of the organised private sector and a network of chambers across the country, is strategically positioned to facilitate the connection between researchers, innovators, entrepreneurs and the marketplace. He expressed optimism that the TETFund-NACCIMA collaboration would create a viable platform for exposing research products to the private sector, encouraging investment and ultimately promoting job creation, wealth generation and sustainable economic development.
Earlier, the Chairman of the TETFund Research and Innovation Fair 2026 Committee, Engr. Bindri, explained that the team was at ACCI as part of efforts to advance the implementation of the Research and Innovation Fair scheduled for November 2026. He said the initiative was conceived under the existing TETFund partnership and was designed to showcase the outputs of Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem, connect knowledge with industry and create opportunities for the production, manufacturing, marketing and commercialisation of locally developed innovations. He added that the proposed programme would also feature an international conference aimed at attracting global attention to Nigeria’s research, innovation and human-capital potential.
The team also inspected facilities at the ACCI BEST Centre as part of preparations for the programme.The engagement ended on a positive note, with both sides expressing confidence in the potential of the partnership to deepen the connection between research institutions and the private sector. The meeting concluded with a group photograph and a renewed commitment to move into the next phase of planning as preparations continue for the Research and Innovation Fair and Conference. The initiative is expected to provide a strategic platform for showcasing Nigerian innovations, strengthening academia-industry collaboration and advancing the commercialisation of research for national and continental development.
Olayemi John-Mensah
ACCI Media & Strategy Officer
