Dutse: The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has offered a special intervention of N1 billion to the Federal University, Dutse, Jigawa, for the establishment of an innovation hub and park in the institution.
Alhaji Abdullahi Yahaya-Bello, the Director of Public Affairs of the Federal University, Dutse, Jigawa, confirmed this in a statement on Friday. Yahaya-Bello quoted the Vice-Chancellor (VC) of the University, Prof. Abdulkarim Sabo, as saying that the institution was one of the few selected universities that would benefit from this significant initiative by TETFund.
Abdulkarim explained that the project aimed to empower students of the institution with self-reliance and equip them to become potential employers in their respective fields.
He added that the innovation hub would promote a culture of innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship among students, thereby enhancing economic growth and human capital development in Nigeria and beyond.
According to him, the hub will comprise a product design laboratory, where ideas evolve into tangible solutions, blending creativity with technical expertise, as well as a three-dimensional (3D) printing laboratory, a haven for innovators, designers, and engineers who seek to transform concept into three-dimensional reality.
The vice chancellor also said that the laboratory would be equipped with cutting-edge 3D printing technology and an array of digital sculpting tools. “The hub will also have a software laboratory, a space for coding, experimentation, and technological advancement, which will be equipped with state-of-the-art hardware and software resources.
“The software laboratory will provide an environment where software engineers can dive deep into coding, testing, and refining digital products and services,” he added. Abdulkarim further listed a leathercraft workshop, which will provide the space to explore the rich world of leatherwork and bring artistic vision to life, and a bio-technology laboratory as part of the hub.
“We will also have an electronics laboratory, textile and fashion design workshop, upcycling and recycling workshop, where waste items will find a second chance as they are repurposed into functional and valuable items, as well as an eco laboratory.
“The eco laboratory will focus on tackling environmental challenges through upcycling, recycling, sustainable architecture, advanced materials, and circular economy principles, and will serve as a hands-on space for research, collaboration, and innovation, transforming ideas into impactful ecological solutions.
“Also among the innovations are the refrigeration and air-conditioning (RAC) laboratory, which is going to be a dynamic workstation where the mechanisms behind are dissected for better understanding and improvement with the aid of stimulators and demonstrators.
“With modern equipment and stimulation tools, this laboratory will empower innovators to develop RAC systems and devices,” he added. The vice chancellor further explained that upon project completion, the university would become an environment that would bring together exceptional talent and skilled professionals among staff, students, and the general public.
He said this would be through providing access to mentorship, expert guidance, networking opportunities, and state-of-the-art technology; each of which would be essential for turning innovative ideas into reality.