Abuja, 04 December 2025  - The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to accelerate Nigeria’s transition toward an innovation-driven, knowledge-based economy. The partnership will strengthen universities and polytechnics as engines of research commercialisation, entrepreneurship, job creation, and technological advancement.

Nigeria is entering a defining decade in which innovation, digital capability, and knowledge ecosystems will be central to economic competitiveness. Building on decades of investment in research infrastructure and academic talent, the TETFund–UNDP partnership marks a major step toward transforming tertiary institutions into hubs of creativity, frontier technology adoption, and inclusive economic growth.

The partnership will be implemented through the National Innovation and Digital Transformation Partnership Programme (NIDTPP) - a joint platform for programming, co-investment, technical collaboration, and ecosystem coordination.

Through this MoU, both institutions will focus on five strategic areas:

• Institutionalising innovation across tertiary institutions

• Strengthening Nigeria’s human capital base for transformative innovation

• Accelerating research commercialisation and frontier technology adoption

• Scaling access to sustainable financing for innovation

• Strengthening evidence, policy, governance, and impact systems

Recent site visits by TETFund and UNDP to the Mine-Tech UniPod at Nasarawa State University, Keffi, and the AI UniPod at the University of Lagos showcased the transformative potential of UniPod - purpose-built innovation hubs designed to turn ideas into prototypes, prototypes into startups, and startups into industries.

Under the partnership, UNDP and TETFund aim to:

• Activate 8 University Innovation Pods and 1 Polytechnic Pod,

• Upgrade 9+ additional TETFund-funded innovation facilities,

• Establish or strengthen 15–20 Technology Transfer Offices (TTOs),

• Equip over 500,000 students and researchers with digital and innovation skills, and

• Support 1,500–2,000 university-linked startups and commercialise 5,000 research outputs.

Speaking during the signing ceremony, Ms. Elsie G. Attafuah, UNDP Resident Representative, stated:“TETFund has been a cornerstone of Nigeria’s nation-building project. Its investments have strengthened infrastructure, expanded research, and enabled thousands of scholars to advance knowledge and national development. UNDP is honoured to partner with TETFund in this next phase - one that deliberately advances innovation, digital transformation, and the knowledge economy across Nigeria’s tertiary institutions.”

In her remarks, she noted that the MoU will be followed by the rapid finalisation of a Programme and Joint Action Plan to be anchored in upcoming TETFund budget cycles, ensuring strong alignment between vision, financing, and implementation.

Delivering his remarks, Architect Sonny S.T. Echono, Executive Secretary of TETFund, stated: “This partnership strengthens TETFund’s mandate and expands our ability to deliver world-class innovation systems, research capacity, and job-creating ventures within Nigeria’s tertiary education landscape.”

The partnership directly supports the Renewed Hope Agenda, the National Development Plan, the Nigeria Startup Act, and national digital and youth initiatives including the Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme (NJFP) and the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme. It also connects Nigerian universities to UNDP’s timbuktoo pan-African innovation ecosystem.

Through this MoU, UNDP and TETFund reaffirm their joint commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s innovation landscape, expanding digital capabilities, and driving high-impact, sustainable development outcomes across the country.

Note to Editors

About UNDP:

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the leading United Nations organisation fighting to end the injustices of poverty, inequality, and climate change. Working with a broad network of experts and partners in over 170 countries, UNDP helps nations to build integrated and lasting solutions for people and the planet.

UNDP Nigeria is driving a new era of development through its Integrated Smart States Programme (ISSP), a bold, system-wide approach that delivers high-impact solutions across Nigeria’s diverse regions. At its core are five flagship portfolios focused on innovation, digital transformation, and the knowledge economy; trade, investment and financing for development; integrated, clean and decentralized energy systems; accelerated community development; and the Made in Nigeria initiative. Together, they enable inclusive, locally led growth, while deepening institutional capacity and unlocking scalable, future-ready development pathways. Learn more: https://www.undp.org/nigeria

About TETFund:

The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) an intervention agency set up to provide supplementary support to all levels of public tertiary institutions, with the main objective of using funding alongside project management for the rehabilitation, restoration and consolidation of Tertiary Education in Nigeria.

Tertiary Education Trust Fund is charged with the responsibility to manage, disburse and monitor the education tax to public tertiary institutions in Nigeria. Tertiary Education Trust Fund administers the tax imposed by the act and disburses the amount to tertiary educational institutions at Federal and State levels.  Specifically, TETFund’s cardinal objective is to provide the badly needed funds to support tertiary education, provide scholarship and grants for staff to enhance the productivity and quality of higher education. TETFund interventions are anchored on the following areas: Normal Intervention; Library Intervention; Research grant; Academic Staff Training & Development; Publication of Journal; Manuscript Development; and Conference Attendance.

Media Contacts:

Mr. Abdulmumin B. Oniyangi

Director, Public Relations

Email: 

Ms. Christabel Chanda Ginsberg

Public Engagement, Outreach & Partnerships Lead

United National Development Programme (UNDP)

Email: christabel.chanda-ginsberg@undp.org