Post by SSA.NEWMEDIA.ABIA (@SSANEWMEDIAABIA)

𝗔𝗯𝗶𝗮 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗮𝘀 𝗡𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮'𝘀 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗳𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝗣𝗼𝗱 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝗢𝗳𝗳 𝗨𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗼𝗿 𝗢𝘁𝘁𝗶'𝘀 𝗜𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗩𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻.

Abia State has added another landmark achievement to its growing list of development milestones with the official inauguration of Nigeria's first Manufacturing Technology University Innovation Pod (Manu-Tech UniPod) at the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU).

The pioneering project, delivered through a partnership involving the Federal Government of Nigeria, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) and the Abia State Government, is expected to bridge the gap between academic research and industrial production while creating new opportunities for innovation, enterprise and job creation.

Representing the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Kashim Shettima, GCON, the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Olatunji Alausa, described the UniPod as a major step towards reshaping Nigeria's higher education system into one that produces innovators, entrepreneurs and commercially viable research.

Delivering a keynote address titled "Science Meets Enterprise," His Excellency, Governor Alex C. Otti , OFR, said the decision to establish the country's first Manu-Tech UniPod in Abia is as a result of the confidence the Federal Government and the UNDP have in the State's enormous economic potential. He explained that his administration embraced the initiative because it fits squarely into its agenda of building an economy driven by knowledge, technology and enterprise. According to the Governor, the facility will encourage researchers, students and innovators to develop practical solutions to real life challenges instead of limiting research to academic publications alone.

The Governor expressed appreciation to the Federal Government, UNDP and TETFund for their collaboration, noting that the partnership has continued to create fresh opportunities for young people, entrepreneurs and small businesses across the State.

Speaking at the event, the UNDP Resident Representative in Nigeria, Ms Elsie Attafuah, said the Manu-Tech UniPod forms part of a nationwide innovation ecosystem designed to connect education, manufacturing, research and entrepreneurship. She commended President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, the Federal Ministry of Education, TETFund and the Abia State Government for supporting the initiative, while describing Governor Otti's vision of making Abia Nigeria's leading manufacturing and industrial hub as inspiring.

Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of MOUAU, Professor Ursala Akanwa, described the commissioning as one of the most significant moments in the University's history, thanking all the partners for selecting the institution to host the country's first Manufacturing Technology UniPod.

The event, attended by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Emmanuel Meribeole, Chief of Staff to the Governor, Pastor Caleb Ajagba, PhD, members of the State Executive Council, traditional rulers and other stakeholders, marks the beginning of a new era where students, researchers and entrepreneurs will have access to modern manufacturing equipment, product development facilities and industry mentorship capable of turning innovative ideas into market-ready solutions.

𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗦.𝗢.𝗕. 𝗜𝗴𝘄𝗲.
𝗦𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝘅𝗲𝗰𝘂𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗼𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝗯𝗶𝗮 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗢𝗻 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮
𝟲𝘁𝗵 𝗝𝘂𝗹𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲

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