NUC sets up panel to commercialise research projects
From Mohammed Abubakar, Abuja
AS a follow-up to the just-concluded first Nigerian Universities Research and Development Fair (NURESDEF), the National Universities Commission (NUC) has set up a committee on selection of research projects for further development for production and commercialisation.
The six-man committee, according to the NUC Secretary-General, Prof. Peter Okebukola, headed by Chinedu Mafiana, a visiting professor to the commission, is expected to begin work with some of the award-winning research projects.
Okebukola was expected to meet with President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday to brief him on the successes recorded and discuss the commercialisation of research outputs at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
At the end of the fair, which was opened with fanfare, University of Agriculture, Abeokuta emerged the best followed by Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife and the Federal University of Technology, Owerri.
According to the NUC boss, the committee has the following as its terms of reference:
- liaise with developers of winning research projects at NURESDEF for the purpose of identifying current stage of development of each project and outstanding steps before commercialisation;
- explore avenues including national and international agencies and the organised private sector for securing financial and institutional support for further development and commercialisation of winning research projects;
- facilitate patenting and secure copyrights for winning projects;
- document by way of publication of a book of abstracts, all projects presented at the fair; and
- propose to the management, areas of focus of greatest impact to national development that are worthy or priority attention by researchers in Nigerian university system.
Among some of the researches identified as worthy of mention included immuno-booster for HIV/AIDS, FAMLAN and anti-snake venom by Prof. F. Okwuasaba from the University of Jos; Prof. Michael O. Faborode and Lateef A. Sanni from OAU Ile-Ife on Automated Garri Sifting and Frying. Dr. S.A. Kareem from the University of Ilorin whose research project was a direct conversion of pure water sachet to candles, lubrication greases, is also worthy of mention.
