Nigerian universities have produced world-class research for decades, yet much of it remains unpatented, uncommercialised and disconnected from industry and policymakers’ needs.
Against this backdrop, Bayero University, Kano (BUK), is set to host the First National Conference and Exhibition on Research and Development aimed at promoting research commercialisation, innovation and stronger collaboration between academia, industry and government.
The Chairman of the Organising Committee, Professor Muhammad Maina, disclosed this during a media briefing on Thursday ahead of the conference scheduled to hold on June 23 and 24, 2026, at the university’s New Campus, CBN Building.
SolaceBase reports that the conference, organised through the university’s Directorate of Research, Innovation and Partnership (DRIP), is themed “Bridging Knowledge and Enterprise: Intellectual Property, Partnership, and Research Commercialisation.”
Speaking at the briefing, Maina said the event was conceived to address the longstanding gap between research outputs and their social and economic impact in Nigeria.
“For decades, Nigeria’s universities have produced world-class research that too often remains on library shelves, unpatented, uncommercialised and disconnected from the needs of industry and policymakers,” he said.
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According to him, the conference represents a deliberate effort to ensure that research findings move beyond academic publications and contribute directly to national development through innovation, entrepreneurship and policy reforms.
He said one of the major objectives of the conference is to bridge the gap between research and enterprise by addressing barriers to the commercialisation of research outputs while strengthening collaboration among academia, industry and government.
Maina noted that the gathering would also provide a platform for researchers, innovators and startups to showcase prototypes, technologies and solutions to potential investors, industry partners and policymakers.
He explained that discussions during the conference would focus on three major thematic areas: the future of patents and intellectual property in the digital economy; global best practices in knowledge valorisation and technology incubation; and opportunities and challenges in technology transfer and research innovation.
According to him, the sessions are designed as working dialogues rather than conventional academic lectures.
“These streams confront the real-world barriers that slow technology transfer, including bureaucratic bottlenecks, limited testing facilities, regulatory uncertainty and academic incentive systems that place publications above patents,” he said.
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Maina further revealed that the conference would feature a high-level policy dialogue involving representatives of academia, industry, government and the legislature to identify obstacles within Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem and propose practical solutions.
The exhibition segment of the programme, he said, would showcase research outputs and prototypes from universities, research centres and startups across the country, creating opportunities for industries and investors to identify commercially viable innovations.
He added that networking sessions would be organised to facilitate partnerships and collaboration between researchers and industry stakeholders.
At the end of the conference, a communiqué containing policy recommendations on intellectual property reforms, innovation procurement, matching-fund mechanisms and regulatory flexibility will be produced and forwarded to relevant stakeholders.
Maina expressed optimism that the event would result in the signing of several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) between Bayero University and industry partners on collaborative research, technology licensing and incubation.
He added that the conference is expected to secure institutional commitments from universities, government agencies and private-sector organisations toward implementing innovation-driven policies and practices.
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Responding to questions from journalists, Maina disclosed that the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP), Dr Barrister Obiageli Edith Amadiobi, is expected to chair the conference.
He also confirmed the participation of representatives of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), alongside other key stakeholders in Nigeria’s research and innovation ecosystem.
According to him, about 300 participants are expected to attend the conference, although the figure may increase as more organisations and individuals continue to indicate interest.
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