The Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND), Arc. Sonny S.T. Echono, has asserted that sustained investment in research and innovation is the most reliable pathway to resolving unemployment, insecurity, hunger and industrial underdevelopment in Nigeria.

Echono made this position known on Wednesday while delivering a lecture titled "Driving Development Through Research and Innovation" at the Oduduwa Hall of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife. He argued that Nigeria's numerous developmental challenges, rather than being obstacles, present significant opportunities for innovation driven transformation.

"Addressing issues such as unemployment, insecurity, hunger, healthcare limitations, industrial underdevelopment and technological dependence requires sustained investment in research and innovation systems that generate practical solutions suited to local realities. Nigeria's sustainable development largely depends on how effectively we leverage knowledge, innovation and technology to grow the economy, expand opportunities, create jobs and wealth, develop new products and services, and improve the well being of our people. This is essential for national growth, competitiveness and long term stability," he stated.

Echono disclosed that TETFund's interventions are increasingly focused on strengthening the research and development capacity of tertiary institutions through research grants, academic staff development, innovation hubs, commercialisation initiatives and entrepreneurship programmes. He noted that these efforts are positioning higher institutions as active contributors to national development rather than passive recipients of government funding.

He also commended President Bola Tinubu for prioritising research funding, crediting the administration's support with helping to reposition tertiary institutions as centres of research and development. "The education family will be eternally grateful to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his laser beam focus on this endeavour," he remarked.

Earlier in his address, the Vice Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University, Professor Simeon Bamire, expressed optimism that the discussions arising from the lecture would generate actionable ideas capable of advancing Nigeria's pursuit of sustainable growth. He described the event as a timely opportunity to examine how research and innovation could deepen the country's development trajectory.