The Federal Government has launched the Mine-Tech UniPod at Nasarawa State University as part of efforts to reposition Nigerian universities as centres of innovation, industrial competitiveness, and technology-driven economic growth.
The initiative was unveiled on behalf of Vice President Kashim Shettima by the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, CON.
Developed through collaboration involving the Federal Ministry of Education, United Nations Development Programme, TETFund, and the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, the UniPod is designed to strengthen research commercialisation, industrial innovation, and enterprise development within Nigeria’s mining sector.
Dr. Alausa described the facility as a transformative intervention aimed at converting universities into innovation ecosystems capable of producing entrepreneurs, industrial solutions, and globally competitive talent. He noted that Nigeria’s mineral resources can only be fully maximised through value addition, local processing, and technology-driven industrialisation.
The UniPod features specialised laboratories focused on mineral intelligence, materials processing, geospatial innovation, and green mining technologies integrating artificial intelligence, digital mapping, and sustainability systems into industrial problem-solving.
The Federal Government reaffirmed its commitment to expanding similar innovation hubs nationwide to strengthen skills development, research commercialisation, and university-industry collaboration.
Boriowo Folasade
Director, Press and Public Relations
