Vice President Kashim Shettima has called for Nigerian universities to move beyond producing graduates and become centres of innovation, industrialisation and entrepreneurship. Represented by the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, Shettima made the call during the inauguration of the Manu-Tech UniPod at Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State.

He said the innovation hub aligns with President Bola Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda by bridging the gap between academic research and industry through technology, manufacturing and entrepreneurship. According to him, universities should produce innovators, entrepreneurs and job creators capable of driving national development.

Abia State Governor Alex Otti described the Manu-Tech UniPod as a major boost to the state's industrial and innovation ambitions, while the UNDP and TETFund said the initiative would strengthen research commercialisation, support startups and promote economic growth through a connected national innovation ecosystem.