In a major step to align education with industry needs, the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) and the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) have agreed to a strategic partnership aimed at strengthening innovation, entrepreneurship, and workforce development across Nigeria.
A delegation led by NACCIMA President and OPSN Chairman, Engr. Jani Ibrahim, met with TETFund Executive Secretary, Arc. Sonny Echono, at the agency's Abuja headquarters in what both sides hailed as a milestone collaboration.
Key areas discussed included developing entrepreneurship training, promoting the green economy, commercializing academic research, and building stronger industry-academia ties to improve graduate employability.
As a major outcome, both parties committed to signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and establishing a Joint Technical Committee to oversee the implementation of initiatives.
The partnership aims to bridge the gap between education and enterprise by turning research into market-ready solutions and aligning tertiary curricula with real-world business demands.
Also present, Prof. Umar Bindir emphasized the importance of sustained private-public collaboration in solving Nigeria's development challenges, while Arc. Echono praised NACCIMA's leadership in enterprise promotion and pledged TETFund's full support.
The initiative positions NACCIMA as a crucial link in connecting innovation from Nigerian universities to the broader economy, empowering youth, and driving inclusive, knowledge-based growth.