The Federal Government has inaugurated a steering committee and a policy drafting committee for the National Research to Commercialisation Policy, aimed at converting research outputs into tangible economic and social value, Dip Connect Online News reports.
Speaking at the inauguration in Abuja on Wednesday, the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, said the initiative would reposition research and innovation as deliberate drivers of economic growth, industrial competitiveness, job creation and sustainable development.
Alausa noted that although Nigeria has invested heavily in research across universities, research institutes and specialised agencies, the translation of research outcomes into products and services has remained weak and fragmented.
“Over the years, Nigeria has produced valuable knowledge and innovative ideas, but the pathway from research to real impact has remained weak, fragmented and largely unstructured,” he said.
He explained that the National Research to Commercialisation Policy is designed to bridge the gap between knowledge generation and value creation by establishing clear, structured and nationally applicable pathways for turning research outputs into commercial, industrial and societal value.
“This policy is not about commercialisation for its own sake; it is about developmental impact. It is about ensuring that research responds to real national needs, improves productivity and strengthens Nigeria’s global competitiveness,” the minister stated.
According to Alausa, the steering committee will provide overall strategic direction, ensure alignment with national priorities and guarantee institutional ownership at the highest level, while the policy drafting committee will handle the technical work.
He said the drafting committee would develop and finalise the national policy, propose financing and incentive mechanisms, design an implementation roadmap, and establish a results-based monitoring and evaluation framework.
“The outcome must be a practical, implementable policy supported by clear institutional arrangements and monitoring mechanisms. Nations that rise in the 21st century are those that can convert ideas into value at scale,” he added.
The minister commended the Research, Innovation and Commercialisation Committee and its partners for laying the groundwork for the policy, stressing that the process must remain evidence-based, inclusive and action-oriented.
He also announced increased government support for research commercialisation, including a N3 billion operational budget for the RICC in the 2026 financial year and the harmonisation of existing research funding lines to ensure synergy and measurable impact.
“We can no longer spend billions without seeing impact. Times have changed, and we must work collaboratively to deliver results for the Nigerian people,” he said.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Policy Drafting Committee, Dr Tayo Aduloju, said the policy would help build a strong institutional base for Nigeria’s industrialisation.
He assured that the committee would adopt inclusive, empirical and evidence-based approaches and deliver the draft policy within the agreed three-month timeline.
“There is no industrial nation that has not mastered the pathway this policy seeks to embed as a national framework. Nigeria needs policies that work for us at home, and we take this responsibility seriously,” Aduloju said.
The inauguration formally marked the commencement of work on the National Research to Commercialisation Policy, expected to strengthen collaboration among government, academia, industry and the private sector.
Elijah Adeyemi
