Funding Polytechnic Researches and Innovations, way forward for Nigeria’s Economic Development – Dr. Daniel Eshett
Increase in funding for polytechnic research and commercialisation of its research innovations were part of strategies identified to contribute to the growth and development of Nigeria’s economy.
These were part of the submissions by Dr. Daniel Eshett, the Lead paper presenter at the 5th National Conference of the School of Business and Management Technology, Ogbonnaya Onu Polytechnic, Aba, on Thursday 8 May, 2025.
Eshett raised the concern of Nigeria, the giant of Africa, ranking 113th out of 133 countries on the Global Innovation Index report of 2024.
At the African level, Nigeria ranked 11 out of 27 listed countries in the continent, a position below smaller African countries like Mauritius, South Africa and Morroco, which ranked 1st, 2nd, and 3rd positions respectively on the African ranking of top Innovative economies.
He attributed the poor ranking to absolute dependence of the country on innovation consumption, rather than outputting its products.
While praising TETFund on its huge contribution to funding researches and innovations in tertiary institutions across the country, he questioned the rationale behind the 2:1:1 formula used in the sharing of the resources to universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.
He argued that given the place of polytechnic education in technology innovation, the polytechnics should be placed on an advantaged scale to do more for the country.
Eshett, a Chief Lecturer and Dean, School Communication Arts of the Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic, called on the government and relevant authorities to fix policy gaps and make polytechnic education more attractive for innovation to thrive from the education sector.
He lauded the President Bola Tinubu’s recent approval of the Renewed Hope Nigeria First Policy, a framework that mandates priority in local goods and services, as well as know-how in all government procurements.
According to him, the Nigeria First Policy, if implemented appropriately, would become the game-changer in the export of local research innovations across sectors.
