Nigerian tertiary institutions are producing locally developed technologies across agriculture, healthcare, energy and manufacturing, with the Tertiary Education Trust Fund playing a central role in funding and advancing these innovations to commercial readiness.

The TETFund Executive Secretary, Sonny Echono, disclosed this during a media interaction in Abuja following the announcement of the 2025 National Research Fund Grant awards, stating that Nigeria is progressively shifting from technology importation and assembly to local design and production.

Among the innovations highlighted was a solar powered garri processing technology that eliminates the traditional firewood method commonly used in rural communities. Echono revealed that TETFund had approved ₦250 million to demonstrate the technology across selected clusters and support local manufacturing of the equipment.

"Instead of the traditional method of frying garri with firewood, researchers have developed a cleaner process powered by solar energy. We are funding its demonstration and encouraging local manufacturing so that it can be deployed across local government areas," he stated.

Echono also pointed to breakthroughs in improved seed varieties, environmentally friendly pest management, industrial scale water purification systems, renewable energy technologies and energy efficient cooling solutions as further examples of research outputs with commercial potential.

One of the most significant success stories, he noted, was a locally developed hearing aid technology that has attracted international investment and is set for large scale manufacturing in the United States. Although local production could not be secured, the Nigerian inventor retained a substantial ownership stake in the venture.

The TETFund boss disclosed that the fund's research inventory contains more than a thousand products and innovations, with many already progressing through standardisation, packaging and commercialisation. "What we usually showcase is only a fraction of what Nigerian researchers have achieved," he revealed.

He also highlighted advances in the automotive sector, including Compressed Natural Gas conversion technologies, electric vehicle development and locally designed transport systems. "You will be shocked at what Nigerians have been able to achieve in the auto industry. We now have locally produced vehicles, including fire engines that are 100% made in Nigeria," he said.

Echono identified industry uptake as the primary obstacle to scaling innovations. "The missing link has always been industry uptake. Once a concept has been proven and a prototype developed, we need investors and manufacturers to take it up and produce it on a large scale," he added.

TETFund plans to host a National Research Fair in November to connect researchers directly with investors, manufacturers and financial institutions.