The Federal Ministry of Science, Innovation and Technology (FMOSIT), in collaboration with the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), has partnered with the Federal University of Technology, Minna (FUT Minna) to strengthen clean technology innovation and advance the commercialization of academic research through the Global CleanTech Innovation Programme (GCIP).
The engagement is part of Nigeria’s broader commitment to sustainable development and climate action under the Paris Agreement.
Representing the Honourable Minister, Hannah Amayo Iruvwe, a Principal Scientific Officer in the Ministry, led the delegation to FUT Minna on Monday, June 30, 2025, for a strategic meeting with the university management. The meeting was held at the Academic Publishing Centre on the university’s Main Campus.
In her remarks, Iruvwe emphasized that the GCIP is not merely a programme but a strategic platform aimed at bridging the gap between research institutions and market demand.
“The GCIP is a systemic platform designed to transform clean technology innovations from academic research into commercially viable products,” she stated.
She also highlighted the University Entrepreneurship and Innovation Initiative (UEII), a component of the GCIP, which aims to build innovation ecosystems within Nigerian universities. FUT Minna is one of only nine institutions selected nationwide to participate in this flagship initiative.
Iruvwe commended FUT Minna’s research efforts, particularly in the area of Internet of Things (IoT) applications, describing them as “impressive and impactful.” She added that her visit aimed to evaluate the university’s performance in clean technology development and identify potential pathways to move innovations from the laboratory to the marketplace.
Responding, the Vice-Chancellor of FUT Minna, Professor Faruk Adamu Kuta, welcomed the Ministry’s initiative and reaffirmed the university’s commitment to impactful and sustainable research.
“Despite being a relatively young institution, FUT Minna ranks eighth nationally and has been recognised by TETFund for research excellence,” Prof. Kuta said.
However, the Vice-Chancellor acknowledged the persistent challenge of research commercialization, attributing the gap to limited collaboration between academia and industry.
“Our researchers consistently produce quality outputs, but weak industry linkages have hindered the transformation of these innovations into market-ready solutions,” he explained.
To address this challenge, Prof. Kuta announced that the university is constructing a dedicated facility to showcase research prototypes, with the goal of promoting innovation and protecting intellectual property. He further called on FMOSIT to champion stronger policy frameworks and facilitate industry-academic collaborations to support research uptake.
“We are committed to creating an innovation-driven environment and look forward to deepening our collaboration with the Ministry to contribute meaningfully to national development,” he concluded.
The GCIP engagement marks a significant milestone in the Ministry’s effort to strengthen Nigeria’s CleanTech ecosystem and position universities as key drivers of innovation for climate resilience and sustainable economic growth.
