The Vice-Chancellor of Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Professor Sa’adatu Hassan-Liman, has called for effective synergy among academia, industry and government to achieve academic distinction and drive innovation-led growth.
The call was made during a public lecture and interactive workshop titled “Building Innovation Ecosystems in Nigerian Universities: The Triple Helix Imperative,” held at the university in Keffi.
Represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Professor Maikano Ari, the Vice-Chancellor said the theme aligned with the university’s vision of engaging in research that leads to innovation and economic development. She explained that building sustainable innovation ecosystems requires collaboration, commitment and coordinated action among key stakeholders.
According to her, the university has adopted the Triple Helix model, which emphasises collaboration between universities, industry and government to stimulate innovation and economic growth.
“It is in this view that the University requests continued assistance and support from our partners, including NASENI, NITDA and Triple Helix Nigeria, to nurture us into becoming a highly enterprising institution,” she said.
She outlined key strategies for implementing the model, including interdisciplinary research, cross-faculty collaboration, industry partnerships through internships and joint research, technology transfer, innovation-friendly government policies and sustainable funding frameworks. She also stressed the need to promote an entrepreneurship culture that supports startups and innovation hubs.
Speaking at the event, Prof. Eucharia Nwaichi, a board member of Triple Helix Nigeria, commended NSUK for its commitment to advancing knowledge and innovation.
The Chief Executive Officer of CypherCrescent Ltd, Engr. ThankGod Egbe, explained that the Triple Helix model provides a pathway for converting university research into startups and industries capable of creating jobs and driving national development.
“The presentation focuses on how we can leverage university networks to transform projects into innovations, startups and industries,” Egbe said.
In an interview, the Director of Research, Innovation and Enterprise at NSUK, Prof. Josiah Onovo, said the programme was organised in collaboration with Triple Helix Nigeria to further advocate cooperation among academia, industry and government for sustainable development.
Also speaking after the event, a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Entrepreneurship Studies and member of the Local Organising Committee, Dr. Vincent Paul, applauded Triple Helix Nigeria and the university management for their commitment to addressing innovation and development challenges.
The event featured panel discussions, keynote presentations and goodwill messages, with participants calling for stronger government support for innovation and entrepreneurship in Nigerian universities.
By Umar Muhammed
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