Otamere Gladness 
Education Minister Tunji Alausa launches the Manu-Tech Innovation Pod at Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike.
UMUDIKE, Nigeria – Manu-Tech Innovation Pod has been launched by the Federal Government at the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, marking the start of a nationwide initiative to transform Nigerian universities into hubs for industrial innovation, research commercialisation and enterprise development.
The facility, unveiled on Monday by Minister of Education Dr Tunji Alausa in Abia State, is the first of several innovation hubs planned across Nigeria to strengthen collaboration between universities, industry and investors.
Speaking at the launch, Alausa says Nigerian universities must move beyond producing graduates and academic publications to becoming centres of industrial production and innovation.
“Our universities must become the birthplace of innovation, manufacturing and enterprise. Education must no longer be separated from production, research from industry or knowledge from economic prosperity. That transformation begins here,” he says.
According to Alausa, the facility is a partnership involving the Federal Government, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Michael Okpara University of Agriculture and other development partners.
He explains that the innovation hub integrates artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing, agro-processing, industrial automation, digital design and entrepreneurship, enabling researchers and innovators to transform ideas into commercially viable products.
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Korede Abdullah 
