From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
The House of Representatives has lauded the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) for championing creative researches and establishing innovative hubs for the promotion of science and technology education amongst Nigerian students and youth.
The deputy speaker, Benjamin Kalu, gave the commendation at the closing ceremony of a two-week cohort learning for some select Nigerian students, researchers and academia at the Abuja Innov8 Hub at the weekend.
Kalu, according to a statement by his
Chief Press Secretary, Levinus Nwabughiogu, noted that the Parliament would continue to support creative activities that tended to develop the minds of Nigerian youth with innovations, such as the one undertaken by the TETFund.
According to him, “The House is interested in providing solutions to the hydra headed needs of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It has also come to our mind that, the problems that we are trying to solve year-in, year-out, using the usual tradition, has not given us the expected level of production in this country, therefore, the call for innovation that will challenge tradition, to increase production; that call cannot be overemphasized”.
He noted that in today’s rapidly evolving world, innovation is no longer a luxury but a necessity, stressing that it is the key to unlocking economic growth, tackling complex challenges, and building a brighter future for the youth and generations to come.
“For Nigeria, this need for innovation is even more crucial. We face
numerous challenges, from unemployment and poverty to security threats and climate change. To overcome these obstacles and achieve sustainable development, we must unleash the immense potential of our people, particularly our young minds brimming with creative ideas and
entrepreneurial spirit.
“This is where initiatives like the Innov8 Hub by i-FAIR come into play. By
providing mentorship, resources, and collaboration platforms, these
programs empower our innovators, inventors, and entrepreneurs to
transform their ideas into tangible solutions”, Kalu added.
The Deputy Speaker, while acknowledgimg the role of the Embassy of the State
of Israel in Nigeria and the Israeli community, in “partnering with Nigeria in
this crucial endeavor”, called for the establishment of such innovation hubs across the South East region of Nigeria, to mitigate the impacts of insecurity and underdevelopment.
“Furthermore, this initiative can be strategically linked to the Peace in South
East Project (PISE-P), a comprehensive program ideated by my office in
collaboration with legislators from South East Nigeria aimed at addressing
socio-economic challenges and fostering peace in the region. By engaging young people in innovation and entrepreneurship, we can provide them
with meaningful alternatives to violence and instability, contributing
significantly to lasting peace and development.
“Therefore, I call upon i-FAIR to consider establishing a similar facility in the
South East of Nigeria. This region, renowned as our nation’s manufacturing
hub, presents immense potential for harnessing innovation and
entrepreneurship,” Kalu stated.