Iwemi, NBTE Move to Turn Polytechnic Research into Jobs, Innovation

Bennett Oghifo The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and Iwemi, a Nigerian digital research and publishing company, are exploring a partnership to transform research in polytechnics and technical colleges into marketable innovations, employable skills and new sources of income. The proposed collaboration, discussed during a visit by Iwemi’s delegation to the NBTE headquarters in Abuja, seeks to bridge the gap between academic research and practical applications by providing digital infrastructure for preserving, publishing and commercialising research outputs from Nigeria’s technical institutions. The initiative comes amid growing calls for technical and vocational education institutions to strengthen industry linkages, improve skills development and produce innovations capable of creating jobs and generating wealth. Leading the delegation, Iwemi’s Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Ejimofor Akah, presented the Iwemi Academic Publishing and Research Platform as a digital ecosystem designed to preserve students’ projects, theses and institutional research while expanding access to academic resources and creating opportunities for lecturers to earn royalties from published learning materials. Akah disclosed that the platform was already operational in five tertiary institutions, including Edo State Polytechnic, Usen, and hosted more than 500,000 titles. He said the platform could provide polytechnics with institution-branded digital repositories for National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) projects, ensuring that research work was preserved, accessible and available for future academic and industrial applications. Under the proposed arrangement, lecturers would also be able to publish digital textbooks for technical and vocational education and training (TVET), with digital rights management protection and royalties paid within 48 hours. The platform is also designed to improve the global visibility of institutional research through indexing that makes academic outputs searchable internationally, potentially strengthening the online presence and research profiles of participating institutions. In addition, its distance-learning component, available through Iwemi School, would enable institutions to deliver short courses and other learning content to students and professionals beyond their physical campuses. Akah said Iwemi would provide training for librarians and information and communications technology officers, while bearing the cost of deploying the platform, thereby reducing the financial burden on participating institutions. A major component of the initiative is the Iwemi National Academic Research Impact Challenge (INARIC) 2026, which offers a prize pool of N25 million for polytechnic students and staff. The grand award ceremony is scheduled for December 11, 2026, in Abuja. Speaking during the meeting, the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of NBTE, Prof. Idris Bugaje, welcomed the delegation but emphasised that the Board’s priority was to move beyond research publication to practical innovation. He said research within the technical and vocational education sector should produce tangible outcomes, including marketable products, viable enterprises and employable skills. According to him, the central objective of technical education is skills development, making it necessary for research initiatives to contribute directly to industrial growth and economic productivity. Bugaje indicated that digital platforms capable of connecting research outputs with practical training and industry needs would merit serious consideration. His position highlights a critical challenge facing Nigeria’s technical education system: ensuring that research conducted within institutions translates into solutions for industrial problems, business opportunities and improved workforce capacity. The Rector of Auchi Polytechnic and Chairman of the Committee of Federal Rectors of Polytechnics (COFER), Dr. Salisu Umar, who spoke on behalf of the polytechnics, commended Iwemi for developing a home-grown platform that could help institutions preserve and publish their research. He also highlighted its potential to improve institutional visibility and create additional income opportunities for academic staff. Other participants included the National Coordinator of the Committee of States Commissioners of Education in Nigeria (COSCEN), Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Dr. Leo; NBTE Deputy Director, Dr. Rabiat Bello; Regional Head of Wema ALAT, Mr. Adesanya Ogunyemi; and Ikay Aiyegbusi of Interswitch, Iwemi’s payment and banking partners. At the end of the meeting, both parties agreed to continue discussions towards a formal partnership, beginning with a pilot programme involving institutions to be nominated by NBTE. Akah thanked Bugaje and his team for the reception, reaffirming Iwemi’s commitment to helping Nigerian institutions convert knowledge into employment opportunities, innovation and national wealth. Iwemi operates a digital publishing, research indexing and distance-learning ecosystem, with payment services supported by Interswitch and Wema Bank’s ALAT.