Tag: research

  • Nigeria and Türkiye Partner to Commercialize Scientific Research

    Nigeria and Türkiye Partner to Commercialize Scientific Research

    According to The Punch, high-level discussions between Nigeria and Türkiye have culminated in a new agreement focused on the commercialization of scientific research. The partnership aims to turn laboratory discoveries into viable commercial products, specifically targeting sectors like agriculture, defense, and manufacturing. The initiative is expected to boost Nigeria’s industrial growth by adopting Turkish technological frameworks and manufacturing processes to scale local innovations.

    The agreement includes exchange programs for researchers and the establishment of “innovation hubs” in major Nigerian cities. Officials from both countries noted that the goal is to reduce Nigeria’s reliance on imported finished goods while creating a robust pipeline for “Made in Nigeria” products destined for the international market. This bilateral cooperation is seen as a key component of the federal government’s 2026 economic expansion agenda.

    This development was also highlighted by Leadership and Tribune. Leadership reported that “the partnership will prioritize tech transfer in the defense sector,” while Tribune mentioned that “funding for the first phase of the hubs has already been secured.”

    Echotitbits take:

    Türkiye has become a strategic middle-power partner for Nigeria, especially in tech and defense. This move toward “commercializing research” suggests Nigeria is moving away from purely academic science toward an industrial-military complex model. Watch for the first “Nigeria-Türkiye” joint venture products in the agricultural machinery space.

    Source: The Punch – https://punchng.com/nigeria-advances-research-commercialisation-talks-with-turkiye/, January 31, 2026

    Photo credit: The Punch

  • The Gambia’s national university renames its agriculture school after Akinwumi Adesina

    The Gambia’s national university renames its agriculture school after Akinwumi Adesina

    The Gambia’s national university renames its agriculture school after Akinwumi Adesina

    According to Africa Newsroom (via APO Group), the University of The Gambia has renamed its School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences in honour of Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, citing his long-standing impact on agriculture and development across Africa.

    The move positions the faculty as a symbolic rallying point for food-security research, climate-smart agriculture, and youth-focused agripreneurship—areas that continue to dominate policy conversations across West Africa.

    It also signals a reputational bet: when institutions attach a global development figure’s name to a school, stakeholders expect the standard to rise—through partnerships, research output, and funding.

    Punch also reported the renaming and quoted Adesina’s reaction, including the phrase “deep sense of gratitude.” The Guardian Nigeria similarly confirmed the development, noting the university “renamed its School” in his honour.

    Echotitbits take:
    This is soft power turning into institutional opportunity. Watch for what follows the ceremony—new grants, exchange programmes, and targeted research labs that can turn the name into measurable outcomes.

    Source: The Punch — January 2, 2026 — https://punchng.com/the-gambia-varsity-renames-faculty-after-ex-afdb-president-adesina/
    The Punch 2026-01-02

    Photo Credit: The Punch