WorldStage– The Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) has called for stronger research commercialisation to accelerate industrial growth, create jobs and enhance global competitiveness.
Dr Aliyu Hong, the Second Deputy President of the chamber and Chairman, National Policy Advocacy Centre (NPAC), ACCI, said this at a stakeholders’ high-level webinar on Thursday in Abuja.
The theme of the meeting was, “From Lab to Market: Driving Nigeria’s Industrial Transformation through Research Commercialization”.
The virtual meeting brought together policymakers, researchers, manufacturers, financiers, innovators and development partners to promote market-driven research outcomes and to advance research commercialisation for sustainable industrial growth.
Hong said that Nigeria must bridge the gap between research discoveries and commercial application.
He called for stronger collaboration among government, academia, industry, investors and development partners to promote technology transfer and indigenous innovation.
He directed the NPAC secretariat to prepare a report on the webinar’s recommendations to guide future advocacy and implementation.
Dr Kazeem Raji, Director-General of the National Board for Technology Incubation, (NBTI) said that research commercialisation was vital to Nigeria’s economic prosperity.
Raji was represented by Mr Tukura Zakaria, Director of Procurement, NBTI.
He said that technology incubation provided mentorship, business support, market access and partnerships needed to transform research into successful enterprises.
He called for increased investment in technology incubation, improved access to finance and stronger intellectual property protection for innovators.
The NBTI boss announced the institute’s “NextGen Innovation Showcase”, scheduled for Aug. 6.
Dr Chidiebere Onwumere, Executive Director of the NPAC, reaffirmed ACCI’s commitment to private sector-led industrialisation through policy advocacy and strategic partnerships.
Onwumere, representing the Director-General of the ACCI, said the webinar would supports plans for a national forum on research commercialisation and sustainable industrial growth.
Participants called for stronger links between research institutions and industry to improve technology transfer, innovation financing and commercialisation incentives.
They also resolved to sustain stakeholder engagement and develop a coordinated roadmap for research commercialisation and policy implementation.
The webinar ended with renewed commitment to strengthening industry-academia collaboration and using innovation to drive sustainable industrialisation and economic diversification.Other stakeholders included the National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP), Bank of Industry (BoI), Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), and African University of Science and Technology (AUST).
