Mirian Gom 
ABUJA, Nigeria – Nigeria moves to bridge the gap between education and industry as TETFund and NACIMA sign a landmark partnership in Abuja on Wednesday.
The Tertiary Education Trust Fund and the National Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture formalise the collaboration through a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at industry-led research, innovation and job-ready graduates.
TETFund Executive Secretary, Arch Sonny Echono, calls the agreement a turning point in aligning higher education with economic needs. “This partnership strengthens our triple-helix model linking government, academia and industry,” Echono says. “Research must now translate into economic value.”
The agreement prioritises commercialisation of academic research, entrepreneurship development, skills training and job creation, while enabling private-sector input into research priorities.
NACIMA President, Engr. Jani Ibrahim, says the pact allows businesses to shape innovation while providing students with internships and industrial attachments. “Development thrives when knowledge meets enterprise,” Ibrahim says, adding that the initiative would improve workforce competence and attract investment.
Both organisations say the partnership supports President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and marks the foundation of long-term education–industry collaboration nationwide.
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Oluwatobi Adu 
Edino Chubiyo Cornelius 
Koko Maxwella 