The Federal University Lokoja (FUL) has called for a strategic partnership with the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) to establish Artificial Intelligence (AI) laboratories and accelerate the commercialisation of research outputs.
Prof. Gbenga Ibileye, Vice-Chancellor of the university, made the call on Friday in Lokoja at the 4th Engr. Joseph Makoju Memorial Lecture.
Ibileye said that Nigerian universities must move beyond producing research that “gathers dust on library shelves” and instead translate knowledge into market-driven products.
According to him, research commercialisation is a key component of FUL’s Vision Plan (2026–2031), to be driven through an innovation and entrepreneurship hub supported by the institution’s solar farm and Centres of Excellence in renewable energy, agriculture and biotechnology.
He stated that the university aspired to become a nationally recognised centre for AI research but required critical infrastructure such as high-performance computing systems, Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) clusters and data centres.
“Without these, the aspiration remains theoretical. FUL is seeking strategic partners,” he said.
The vice-chancellor also disclosed plans to launch an Annual Innovation Fair aimed at connecting researchers with potential funders, including the Tony Elumelu Foundation and the Bank of Industry (BOI), with AI as a central theme.
Ibileye commended the late Engr. Joseph Makoju for his contributions to the university, noting that the most fitting tribute was to ensure that research outcomes contributed to economic growth, job creation and national development.
Mr Khalil Halilu, Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NASENI, while delivering a lecture titled: “Commercialisation of Research and Development Products: Prospects and Challenges,” described commercialisation as the missing link in Nigeria’s development process.
Halilu warned that many innovations fail in the “valley of death” between prototype and market due to inadequate financing, poor infrastructure and policy inconsistencies.
“Nations industrialise not by generating knowledge alone, but by applying it within productive systems,” he said.
He identified key benefits of effective research commercialisation to include economic diversification, job creation, export competitiveness, increased non-oil revenue from patents and spin-offs, and solutions in critical sectors such as healthcare, agriculture and energy.
Halilu proposed reforms such as restructuring academic incentives to reward commercialisation, strengthening Technology Transfer Offices (TTOs), institutionalising industry co-funded research, and providing blended financing for prototyping.
He also advocated training researchers in business development skills and establishing shared prototyping and testing facilities.
The NASENI boss reiterated the agency’s role in bridging the gap between research and industry through engineering development, pilot production, fabrication, certification support and seed funding.
He called for joint commercialisation pipelines with universities, co-located innovation hubs, harmonised intellectual property frameworks and a national database of viable research outputs.
“Universities must evolve beyond teaching and research to embrace a third mission of delivering economic and societal impact,” he said.
Gov. Ahmed Ododo of Kogi, represented by the State Security Adviser, Retired Cdr. Jerry Omodara, commended the university and the Makoju family for sustaining the legacy of the late engineer.
He urged NASENI to consider the university’s request to better equip students with technological skills and innovative capacity.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Education, Mr Wemi Jones, represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mr Albert Alabi, reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to supporting engineering and technology programmes and promoting Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education.
In her remarks, a representative of the Makoju family, Dr Gladys Makoju, expressed appreciation to the university for honouring her late husband.
Stakeholders at the event emphasised the need to patronise locally made goods and services as a pathway to building a resilient economy.
They also urged governments at all levels to create an enabling environment for indigenous products to compete favourably.
NAN reports that the lecture attracted academics, policymakers and industry leaders.
