Nigeria has launched the Mine-Tech University Innovation Pod geared towards repositioning tertiary institutions to become drivers of industrial growth br transiting from raw minerals export to a mining economy.

Also known as the Mine-Tech UniPod, the initiative located at the Nasarawa State University Keffi (NSUK), was built by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Nigeria with support from the Tertiary Eduction Trust Fund TETFUND.

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Notably, a total of seven other UniPods with different thematic areas of focus have also been established across the country, covering; Artificial Intelligence, Agriculture, Manufacturing and Trade, Industrial Technology, Resilience Technology, Green and Blue Technology, and Mine-Tech Innovation.

The Nigerian government also revealed that an additional 20 UniPod centres in universities across the country to assist in driving industrial technology and economic growth.

Remarking, Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima at the unveiling described the Mine Tech Hub as ‘a strategic intervention designed to connect education, research, enterprise and industrialisation.’

“The country is now shifting from dependence on raw material exports to value addition, industrial processing and innovation-led growth.

“The Mine-Tech UniPod would serve as a platform for students, researchers, environmental experts, investors and mining professionals to collaborate on practical solutions for Nigeria’s mineral economy,” the vice president remarked.

According to him, although Nigeria has more than 44 commercially viable minerals valued at over $1trillion dollars, the solid minerals sector has continued to contribute below its full potential to the nation’s economy.

VP Shettima said the global economy is greatly relying on critical minerals required for electric vehicles, semi-conductors, renewable energy systems and advanced manufacturing, which are in abundance in Nasarawa State and other parts of the country.

“Nasarawa State is strategically positioned to benefit from the emerging market due to its vast lithium, tantalite, gemstone and lead-zinc deposits,” he said

The Mine-Tech UniPod at the Nasarawa varsity aims to foster innovation in minerals development, featuring a specialised laboratory, prototyping space, and technology transfer office to support students and innovators.

The facility houses four specialised laboratories, including the Mineral Intelligence Laboratory, Materials and Processing Laboratory, Geo-Spatial Innovation Studio and Green Mining and ESG Technology Hub.

Also remarking at the ceremony, the Resident Representative UNDP (Nigeria), Elsie Attafuah, said the mine Tech Hub has come to bridge the weak gap between knowledge and production, research and enterprise, talent and industry in Nigeria and the African continent.

“The students see this unipod as a shift from an academic journey to an innovation journey, from learning about minerals to testing,designing, building, commercializing, and contributing to Nigeria’s industrial future.

“The UniPod is much bigger than a university laboratory. It reflected one of the central challenges that has slowed Africa’s scientific innovation and industrial transformation for decades. We have talent, intelligence, science, and ambition.”

On his part, the Executive Secretary of TETFUND, Sunny Echono said additional 20 UniPod centres would be established across the country before the end of the year as part of efforts to deepen Innovation and enterprises development within Nigeria.