By Emmanuella Anokam
The Petroleum Training Institute (PTI) has lauded the Triple Helix Nigeria model for driving commercialisation of research and innovation output for socioeconomic development.
Dr Samuel Onoji, Principal/Chief Executive Officer, PTI made this known on Wednesday in Abuja at the Triple Helix Nigeria maiden SciBiz conference.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the triple helix model of innovation refers to a set of interactions between academia (the university), industry and government, to foster socioeconomic development.
The model aims to ensure that research transcended the boundaries of laboratories and classrooms to solving real-world problems and fostering economic prosperity.
The association hosted the conference in fulfilment of the requirements for galvanising members in intellectual discourse to promote research commercialisation and innovation culture in Nigeria and Africa.
Onoji, represented by Dr Tina Isichei, Director, Research and Development, PTI said for research to be meaningful and impact the society, the output must not just be kept in files, used to write papers/articles in journals and other media.
According to him, it must be commercialised to achieve economic and social development.
He said the Triple Helix of academia, government and industry partnerships were needed to make it a reality, while the conference was expected to chart a course to achieve that.
“We believe that Nigeria and indeed Africa must come up, with home grown solutions to solve the myriads of challenges facing us.
“This can only be done through research, innovation and commercialising the outputs of our innovation and research,” he said.
He said the PTI was established over 50 years ago to provide training, research and consultancy in oil and gas technology and to produce technicians and skilled personnel to run the industry globally.
He further said that since its establishment, it had produced more than 50,000 technologists, technicians and other technical personnel in various areas in the oil and gas and allied industries.
“Our products can be found across the globe from Africa, to Middle East to North America and some of them have today become captains in the industry.
“I make bold to say some of the delegates/attendees at this conference are our products and all these are testament to our success story over the years.
“The Petroleum Training Institute is glad to be part of this maiden SciBiz conference of Triple Helix and part of history of driving innovation and research,” he said.
The theme of the conference, which was sponsored by the NCDMB, PTI and others, is “Integrating Research, Innovation, and Policy: Triple Helix Pathway to Research Commercialisation”. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)