By Mohammed Abubakar
In alignment with its commitment to sustainable development and climate action under the Paris Agreement, the Federal Ministry of Science, Innovation and Technology (FMOSIT), in collaboration with the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), has engaged the Federal University of Technology, Minna (FUT Minna) on the Global CleanTech Innovation Programme (GCIP).
Representing the Honourable Minister, Hannah Amayo Iruvwe a Principal Scientific Officer, met with the University Management on Monday, June 30, 2025. The meeting was held at the Academic Publishing Centre, Main Campus, where she emphasized the Ministry’s focus on accelerating clean technology innovation and commercializing research outputs.
According to Iruvwe, the GCIP is a strategic initiative aimed at transforming clean technology solutions from academic research into commercially viable products. “The GCIP is not just an initiative it is a systemic platform designed to bridge the gap between research and market demand,” she noted. She highlighted the University Entrepreneurship and Innovation Initiative (UEII), a key GCIP component, which seeks to foster innovation ecosystems in Nigerian universities.
FUT Minna is one of only nine institutions nationwide selected for this flagship project. During her visit, Iruvve praised the University’s innovative strides, particularly in Internet of Things (IoT) applications, describing them as impressive and impactful.
“I am here to evaluate FUT Minna’s performance in CleanTech and explore pathways for advancing your innovations from lab to market,” she stated, noting that research commercialization remains a critical challenge for many Nigerian institutions.
In his remarks, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Faruk Adamu Kuta, expressed appreciation for the Ministry’s engagement and reiterated FUT Minna’s dedication to impactful research. “Despite being a younger institution, we rank 8th nationally and have been recognized by TETFund for research excellence,” he said.
Prof. Kuta acknowledged the gap between research output and commercialization, attributing it to limited industry partnerships. “Our researchers consistently produce outstanding work, but weak industry linkages often prevent these innovations from reaching the market,” he explained.
To address this, he revealed that the University is constructing a dedicated facility to house and display prototypes, aiming to protect and promote research outcomes. He also called on FMOSIT to advocate for stronger policy support and industry collaboration.
“We are committed to fostering an innovation driven environment and look forward to continued collaboration with the Ministry to achieve national development goals,” Prof. Kuta said.
Photo Credit Elijah Yisa
