Campus News

Varsities urged to translate indigenous innovations into practical solutions

By Mustafa Abubakar

The Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, has called on Nigerian universities to work towards translating indigenous innovations into practical solutions that can reshape the economy and drive sustainable national development.

Prof. Egbewole, who  made the call last Thursday (May 29, 2025), at the maiden Research Products–Industrial Summit organised by the Laboratory to Product (LABTOP) Centre, held at the Multipurpose Hall, emphasised that the time has come for Nigerian universities to move beyond the comfort zone of publishing academic papers into the more impactful realm of patenting and production.

According to him, what the University has done here is historic. “We have laid the foundation for an ecosystem where ideas become inventions, and inventions become instruments of change”, he said.

“This summit represents a bold step in our effort to drive a knowledge economy. We are demonstrating that research should not end in journals and conferences. It should be visible in our industries, our markets, and our daily lives. Innovation must become a currency for development,” the Vice Chancellor declared.

He further noted that the summit aligns with the institution’s vision , adding that research should respond to the challenges of society and contribute to solving Nigeria’s most urgent development issues—ranging from food security and health care to power generation and digital transformation.

Prof. Egbewole also commended LABTOP for institutionalising innovation in the University’s research culture and assured it of continued support to ensure that the Centre becomes a hub for technology innovations.

In his keynote lecture, titled “Promoting Indigenous Technologies for National Development” drawn from the theme, “promoting indigenous technology and commercialising research outcomes”, Engr Jani Ibrahim, an accomplished industrialist and former Managing Director of the Nigerian Airways, lamented the nation’s heavy dependence on imported technology as he challenged universities to rise to the occasion.

“There is no lack of talent in Nigeria. What we lack is a system that turns talents into usable value. Our universities should be hothouses of inventions and commercialisation—not just sites of theory,” he asserted.

Engr Ibrahim, who was represented by the Chief Executive Officer, LUBCON Limited, Ilorin,  Dr Taiye Williams, proposed a four-pillar strategy for innovation growth: policy incentives, technical incubation, market access, and funding ecosystems.

He also recommended that universities should set up dedicated commercialisation units to bridge the gap between research output and product development.

In his presentation, Oba Engr AbdulWahab Ogunbiyi, Eleku of Obokun, Isin Local Government Area of Kwara state, who is also a practicing engineer with three patents to his name, showcased the Isin Farm Cultivator (IFC_2021)—a manually operated mini-tractor designed for smallholder farmers.

The traditional ruler said, “Our rural communities are full of untapped inventors. The difference is that their laboratories are farms, blacksmith shops, and motor garages. We must recognise and support these unsung innovators”.

He commended the University on its openness to traditional knowledge and urged that intellectual property policies be extended to rural inventors through inclusive partnerships and community technology hubs.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Director of the Laboratory to Product Centre, Prof. Mohammed Jimoh Saka, described the Summit as a culmination of ten years of tireless efforts to bring research out of the laboratory and into the production floor.

 “This summit is not a one-off event. It is the outcome of years of visioning and persistence. LABTOP was established in 2015 with a mandate to make the University a producer of solutions, not just a generator of knowledge”, he said.

Prof. Saka enumerated the Centre’s milestones, which included securing 55 patent certificates from the Nigerian Patent Registry, attracting over $2.6 million in external research grants, including a major US-based fund for a patented medicinal product by Prof. Olatunji Saminu.

Others, according to him, include “Facilitating a globally recognised medical breakthrough, the Ijaiya Technique, in the non-invasive treatment of Vesico-Vaginal Fistula (VVF), and developing and implementing a University-wide Intellectual Property Policy, in line with best global practices”.

Prof. Saka expressed hope that the Summit would lead to stronger collaboration between academia and the private sector, such that Nigerian industries can begin to rely more on local innovations rather than imported technology.

Also speaking, the Oba of Agbeku in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, Alhaji Abddulazeez Agboola Adesina, said that the summit underscored a powerful message such as the need for  research to  have impact.

Dr Muhtahir Oluwaseyi Oloyede, the Deputy Director of LABTOP, while speaking with UNILORIN  Bulletin on the sideline of the event,  noted that the summit provided a “rare meeting point” between young inventors and experienced industry stakeholders.

He called for sustainable mentorship structures, targeted funding, and policy reforms to enable Nigerian researchers to compete globally.

“We are not short of ideas. We just need stable bridges to take these ideas to the  market”, he said.

In his contribution, the Director of the CBT Centre, Prof. Kamilu Rauf, emphasised the growing role of digital platforms in scaling up innovation.

Highlights of the events included interactive networking session among inventors, industry representatives, and policymakers,  Student Innovators’ Colloquium, where students and various  researchers from across the faculties displayed cutting-edge projects in fields like Renewable energy, Smart farming, Biomedicine, AI and data analytics, among other.