The Federal Government has commissioned the Manu-Tech UniPod at Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, in a move aimed at accelerating innovation, strengthening industry-academia collaboration and equipping young Nigerians with skills for the country’s industrial transformation.
The facility was inaugurated by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, who represented Vice President Kashim Shettima at the ceremony attended by Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, and the United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Special Adviser on Africa, Ms. Ahunna Eziakonwa.
Speaking at the event, Alausa described the Manu-Tech UniPod as more than an innovation centre, saying it is a strategic investment designed to bridge the gap between education, research and industry while developing the skilled workforce needed to power Nigeria’s manufacturing sector and innovation ecosystem.
He said the project aligns with the Federal Government’s Nigerian Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI), which seeks to strengthen the transition from classrooms to industry by producing graduates equipped with practical skills and entrepreneurial capacity.
According to the Minister, the initiative also supports President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision of transforming Nigeria from a resource-based economy into a knowledge-driven economy anchored on innovation, technology and human capital development.
Alausa commended Governor Otti for creating an enabling environment for industrialisation and innovation in Abia State, describing the state’s development agenda as a model for economic transformation through education and enterprise.
He also acknowledged the contributions of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and other development partners, noting that sustained collaboration between government, academia, development institutions and the private sector remains critical to building a globally competitive workforce.
The Minister said investments such as the Manu-Tech UniPod would foster innovation, encourage research commercialisation and prepare Nigerian youths to become creators of solutions rather than seekers of jobs.
He also expressed appreciation to the Abia State Government and residents for the warm reception extended to him and his delegation, describing his participation in the traditional breaking of the kola nut as a reflection of the state’s rich cultural heritage and enduring spirit of hospitality.
The commissioning of the Manu-Tech UniPod marks another milestone in the Federal Government’s efforts to reposition tertiary education as a catalyst for innovation, industrial growth and sustainable national development.
