The Directorate of Research, Innovation and Enterprise (DRIE) of Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK) successfully hosted its 9th Annual Research Fair and Exhibition at the University’s Assembly Hall.
Themed “The Quadruple Helix Imperative: Shaping the Future through University–Industry–Community–Government Partnerships for Capacity Building,” the event brought together stakeholders from academia, industry, government, and the community to deliberate on the future of innovation, research commercialization, and collaborative growth.
In her opening remarks, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sa’adatu Hassan Liman (Fellow, UNESCO, ACLS, FIIFP, CBER), represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Dr. Halima Aliyu Doma Kutigi expressed profound appreciation to the Governor of Nasarawa State, His Excellency, Engr. Abdullahi A. Sule and the Emir of Keffi, His Royal Highness, Dr. Shehu Chindo Yamusa III, CON, for their steadfast support toward the university’s continuous growth and transformation.
She commended the Director of DRIE, Professor J.C. Onovo and the central planning and evaluation committee for organizing a well-coordinated and impactful event. Professor Liman reiterated that the theme aligns with the university’s mission to promote academic excellence through strategic partnerships. She noted that the annual fair serves as a vital platform for knowledge exchange, innovation showcasing, and research visibility, adding that the workshop component of the fair provides the NSUK research community with tools for intellectual property protection, innovation management, and commercialization.
Representing the Emir of Keffi, Hon. Ibrahim Abdul Usman, Wamban Keffi, commended NSUK’s rising academic profile and applauded Professor Liman for her visionary leadership, which he described as a driving force behind the university’s rapid development. He characterized the fair as a celebration of knowledge, innovation, and creativity, urging participants to continue using such platforms to inspire students and researchers to contribute to national growth.
The Chairman of the occasion, Ambassador Dr. Alewa Akawu Nasiru, CEO of Alewa Akawu Group of Companies and Managing Director of Facilities Management Ltd, praised the university for sustaining a vital platform that promotes research, innovation, and community engagement. He described the theme as timely, aligning with global efforts to foster inclusive and cross-sectoral collaboration in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
In his welcome remarks, Professor Josiah C. Onovo, Director of DRIE, welcomed participants and expressed gratitude to the Vice-Chancellor and university management for their unwavering support. He noted that research and innovation remain key drivers of economic development, technological advancement, and societal transformation. He emphasized the need for sustainable research ecosystems and announced the exhibition of research outputs from various faculties, centres, institutes, and partner organizations.
Delivering the keynote address, Professor Ibrahim Katampe of the Centre of Excellence in Emerging Technology (CEET), Central State University, Wilberforce, Ohio, USA, underscored the pivotal role of emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in driving innovation and capacity building. He urged participants to embrace digitization and integrate digital tools into research and knowledge dissemination, emphasizing the importance of translating research into real-world impact.
Delivering the first sub-theme address, titled “Research Translation: Building Trust between Academia and Industry,” Professor Ekanem Braide, former President of the Nigerian Academy of Science and pioneer Vice-Chancellor of Federal University of Lafia, observed that Nigeria is not short of research but lacks mechanisms to translate academic work into practical solutions. She identified mutual distrust between universities and industry as a major barrier where industry doubts the applicability of academic research and academia fears exploitation. She called for co-created curricula, functional technology transfer offices, joint research teams, and government-backed incentives to foster trust and strengthen collaboration.
Speaking on the second sub-theme, “Bridging Skills Gaps through Industry-Driven Curriculum and Innovation,” Dr. Musa Yahaya Maikafi, Rector, College of Agriculture, Science and Technology, Lafia, emphasized aligning academic programmes with industry needs to close the skills gap, enhance employability, and drive national development.
In their separate goodwill messages, notable personalities including Professor Muhammad Akaro Mainoma, a former Vice-Chancellor of NSUK and Engineer Mustapha Usman, commended the Vice-Chancellor and the DRIE team for consistently organizing impactful research fairs. They noted that the event provides fertile ground for collaboration among faculties, research institutes, and industry partners, and called for sustained investment in platforms that bridge academic research and societal impact.
In the competitive exhibition segment, the Faculty of Agriculture, Lafia–Shabu Campus, emerged as the overall winner of the 2025 Research and Exhibition Fair, while the Faculty of Natural and Applied Sciences and the Faculty of Arts came second and third, respectively.
Among the Directorates, Institutes, Centres, and Guest Institutions, the Entrepreneurship Development Centre clinched first place, followed by the Centre for Cyberspace Studies and CSS Farms, which took second and third positions respectively.
In a show of strong support for research and innovation at NSUK, several donations were announced during the event: ₦3 million from Amb. Dr. Alewa Akawu Nasiru (Alewa Akawu Group of Companies)
₦2 million from Dr. Kassim Muhammad Kassim, Executive Chairman of NSUBEB and NSUK alumnus, and ₦1.5 million from Dr. Peter Alih and family.
All contributions are directed toward fostering creativity and innovation among students and researchers.
Plaques of honour were presented to distinguished personalities for their outstanding contributions: Amb. Dr. Alewa Akawu Nasiru for exemplary leadership and service to human empowerment; Hon. Dr. Kassim Muhammad Kassim for commitment to community and university development; and Professor Ibrahim Katampe for his scholarly contributions and service to humanity.
The event concluded with the exhibition of research outputs, networking sessions, and group photographs to commemorate another successful edition of the NSUK Annual Research Fair and Exhibition.
