The need for universities to commercialise research findings - FUTA Vice Chancellor.
Universities across Nigeria produce thousands of research papers every year, but one question continues to come up: How much of that research actually makes it out of the laboratory and into everyday life?
The Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), Professor Adenike Oladiji, believes it is time for Nigeria to take that question more seriously.
Speaking at the three-day Green Microbiology Global Summit held at FUTA, the Vice-Chancellor called on the Federal Government and private sector to pay greater attention to the commercialisation of research findings.
Her message was straightforward. Nigerian universities should not stop at publishing research papers. They should also be encouraged and supported to turn their discoveries into products, services and practical solutions that can improve people's lives and contribute to the country's economic development.
It is an issue that has been discussed in Nigeria's education and research space for years. Universities carry out research, students and academics develop promising ideas, but many of those ideas struggle to move beyond the laboratory.
According to Oladiji, that needs to change.
From Research Papers to Products
For many academics, publishing research is an important part of their work. It allows discoveries to be shared, contributes to academic knowledge and helps researchers build their careers.
But research can have an even greater impact when it is transformed into something people can actually use.
A scientific discovery could become a new product. A laboratory finding could lead to a new business. A research project could provide a solution to an environmental problem or improve the way food is produced.
That is the kind of connection Professor Oladiji wants to see strengthened.
She called for both government and industry to prioritise the commercialisation of research findings, arguing that universities should play a more direct role in national economic development.
The summit's communique also reflected this concern, calling for stronger collaboration and government funding to help turn research into practical solutions.
Without funding, partnerships and the right structures, even promising research can remain on a laboratory shelf.
Why Green Microbiology Matters
The theme of the summit provided a good example of how scientific research can be connected to everyday problems.
The event focused on the industrial applications of microorganisms in areas including food production, environmental sustainability and healthcare.
To many people, the word “microorganism” immediately brings to mind disease.
After all, some microorganisms are responsible for illnesses that have affected millions of people, including COVID-19, tuberculosis and typhoid.
But microorganisms are not all harmful.
In fact, a significant number of them are useful, and people interact with beneficial microorganisms in everyday life without necessarily thinking about it.
That was one of the key messages from Dr Adenike Akinsemolu, the convener of the summit.
Not Every Microbe Is the Enemy
Akinsemolu explained that the summit was partly organised to challenge the common perception that microorganisms are mainly dangerous.
She noted that only a small fraction of microorganisms are harmful, while many others have useful applications.
One simple example can be found in food.
Microorganisms play important roles in the fermentation of foods that Nigerians consume regularly, including pap, garri and yoghurt.
So, while some microbes can cause disease, others are involved in processes that people depend on.
This distinction is at the heart of Green Microbiology.
According to Akinsemolu, the emerging field looks at how microorganisms can be used to improve food systems while also helping to protect ecosystems.
That opens up possibilities in areas ranging from agriculture and food processing to environmental management and healthcare.
Building a New Field Around Practical Solutions
The summit brought together a wide range of participants, including university students, secondary school students, academics, industry representatives and policymakers.
That mix was deliberate.
Green Microbiology is still developing as a field, and its growth will require people from different backgrounds to work together.
Researchers may develop new discoveries, but industry players are often better positioned to understand what can be turned into a viable product.
Government, meanwhile, has an important role in creating policies, providing funding and ensuring that new technologies are used safely and responsibly.
Bringing all these groups into the same conversation could help close the gap between scientific research and practical application.
Akinsemolu also highlighted the newly established Society for Green Microbiology, which is expected to provide a platform for stakeholders to work together.
The society aims to help develop and regulate practices within the field while encouraging collaboration among researchers, businesses, policymakers and other stakeholders.
Entrepreneurship at the Centre
One of the most interesting aspects of the summit was its emphasis on entrepreneurship.
Akinsemolu stressed that the laboratory's focus is not simply on conducting research for academic purposes. The goal is to take research findings and turn them into action that can contribute to national development.
That approach could be particularly valuable for Nigerian students.
For years, university education has often been discussed mainly in terms of obtaining a degree and finding employment afterwards. But universities can also be places where students learn to identify problems, develop solutions and create businesses around those solutions.
Green Microbiology could provide opportunities in areas such as food processing, waste management, agriculture, environmental protection and biotechnology.
Students studying microbiology and related sciences could potentially find themselves working not only in traditional laboratory or healthcare settings but also in industries where microorganisms can be used to solve practical problems.
Research Needs Support
Professor Arotunpin Daniel, Head of FUTA's Department of Microbiology, also stressed the importance of moving research beyond academic publications.
According to him, research is most successful when its findings can be translated into solutions that society can actually use.
That requires partnerships.
Universities need to work more closely with businesses, government agencies and other organisations that can help take innovations from the laboratory into communities and the marketplace.
It also requires funding.
A researcher may have a promising idea, but moving from an initial discovery to a tested and commercially viable product can require significant resources.
Laboratory equipment, testing, product development, intellectual property protection, regulatory approval and manufacturing all cost money.
Without financial support, many innovations may never get the chance to develop.
Green Microbiology and Environmental Protection
The potential applications of Green Microbiology go beyond food and industry.
Daniel also pointed to its potential contribution to conservation and environmental sustainability.
Microorganisms can play important roles in natural ecosystems, and understanding how they interact with the environment could help researchers develop more sustainable ways of managing environmental challenges.
This is particularly relevant as Nigeria deals with issues such as waste, pollution, declining ecosystems and the need for more sustainable production methods.
The possibility of using biological processes rather than relying entirely on chemical or energy-intensive solutions is one area where further research could prove valuable.
What This Means for Nigerian Students
The message coming out of FUTA is also relevant to students who are deciding what they want to do with their education.
A degree should not necessarily be seen as the final destination.
Students can learn to look at the problems around them and ask whether the knowledge they are gaining can be used to create something useful.
For science students in particular, this could mean exploring the entrepreneurial side of their disciplines.
But it also requires good academic foundations.
Students need to understand their subjects well before they can confidently apply that knowledge to real-world problems. Platforms such as La-Net Hub can support this process by helping learners revisit difficult topics, practise questions and develop consistent study habits.
Nigeria Needs to Close the Research Gap
Professor Oladiji's call ultimately speaks to a much larger issue within Nigeria's education system.
The country does not lack researchers or ideas. What it has struggled with is creating a strong enough bridge between research, industry and society.
The Green Microbiology Global Summit demonstrated what that bridge could look like.
Researchers can identify opportunities. Students can develop new ideas. Industry can provide practical expertise and investment. Government can create the policies and funding structures needed to make innovation possible.
When these pieces work together, research becomes more than something published in an academic journal.
It becomes a product, a service, a business, a new method or a solution to a problem.
That is the shift Nigerian universities may increasingly need to make.
The future of research should not be measured only by how many papers are published, but also by how many lives are improved, businesses are created, problems are solved and industries are strengthened because of that research.
And if Green Microbiology can help demonstrate what is possible, FUTA may be helping to open the door to a much broader conversation about how Nigerian universities can turn knowledge into national development.