The Federal Government has launched the Mine-Tech University Innovation Pod (Mine-Tech UniPod) at Nasarawa State University, marking a significant step in repositioning universities as drivers of industrial growth. The initiative aims to transition Nigeria from exporting raw minerals to building a technology-driven mining economy.
Vice President Shettima Highlights Strategic Importance
Speaking at the unveiling, Vice President Kashim Shettima, represented by Minister of Education Dr Tunji Alausa, described the Mine-Tech UniPod as a strategic intervention connecting education, research, enterprise, and industrialisation. He stated that the initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda, focusing on human capital development, innovation, and youth empowerment.
Shettima noted that despite Nigeria possessing over 44 commercially viable minerals valued at more than $1 trillion, the solid minerals sector has not reached its full economic potential. The country is now shifting from raw material exports to value addition, industrial processing, and innovation-led growth.
Global Demand for Critical Minerals
The Vice President emphasised that the global economy is increasingly driven by critical minerals needed for electric vehicles, semiconductors, renewable energy systems, and advanced manufacturing. Nasarawa State is strategically positioned to benefit due to its vast deposits of lithium, tantalite, gemstones, and lead-zinc.
The Mine-Tech UniPod will serve as a platform for students, researchers, environmental experts, investors, and mining professionals to collaborate on practical solutions for Nigeria's mineral economy.
Government Initiatives and Training Programs
Shettima highlighted the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative, which aims to strengthen STEMM education, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), digital literacy, research commercialisation, and university-industry partnerships. Approximately 160,000 youths are currently training in about 1,200 TVET centres nationwide, with over one million applications received after the programme's portal reopened. The government plans to train an additional 100,000 youths in the coming months.
Seven UniPods with different thematic focus areas have been established across the country, covering Artificial Intelligence, Agriculture, Manufacturing and Trade, Industrial Technology, Resilience Technology, Green and Blue Technology, and Mine-Tech Innovation.
Facilities and Partnerships
The Mine-Tech UniPod, powered by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Nigeria and supported by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), aims to foster innovation in minerals development. It features a specialised laboratory, prototyping space, and technology transfer office. The facility houses four specialised laboratories: the Mineral Intelligence Laboratory, Materials and Processing Laboratory, Geo-Spatial Innovation Studio, and Green Mining and ESG Technology Hub.
Nasarawa State Governor's Remarks
Governor Engineer Abdullahi Sule described the facility as a timely intervention that will position Nasarawa as a major hub for mining innovation and technology-driven industrial development. He announced that the state government would provide a solar mini-grid to guarantee sustainable power supply for uninterrupted operations.
The governor called on investors, development partners, and private sector players to leverage the opportunities created by the innovation ecosystem to support research, entrepreneurship, technology transfer, and job creation for young Nigerians. He noted that Nasarawa's vast mineral resources, particularly lithium and other strategic minerals, place it at the centre of the global transition toward clean energy and advanced manufacturing.
