The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has announced the award of N7.5 billion in research grants to 174 research teams drawn from tertiary institutions across Nigeria. The grants, awarded under the 2025 National Research Fund cycle, followed a rigorous and highly competitive selection process involving proposal submissions, evaluations, and physical oral defence sessions conducted in Abuja.
Selection Process and Sectoral Focus
Speaking during a press briefing at the Fund's headquarters in Abuja on Thursday, the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Sonny Echono, disclosed that the successful projects were selected after extensive scrutiny by the National Research Fund Screening and Monitoring Committee (NRFS&MC). According to him, the grants cut across critical sectors of national development, including health, agriculture, food security, education, energy, science and engineering, national defence, technology, blue economy, conflict resolution, gender inclusion, and environmental sustainability.
He said the grants awarded to individual research teams range from N13.69 million to N49.98 million, reflecting the scale and strategic importance of the approved projects. “A total of 174 grants were awarded to various research teams across thematic areas of national priority at a total sum of N7.5 billion,” he said. He explained that the selection exercise began with the submission of concept notes, after which shortlisted applicants were invited to submit full proposals and defend them orally before the final approval of successful projects.
Top Performing Institutions
The Federal University of Technology, Minna, emerged as the institution with the highest number of successful applications, securing 18 research grants, while the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, followed with 11 grants. Other institutions that recorded strong performances include Ahmadu Bello University with 10 grants, the University of Ilorin with eight, Bayero University Kano and Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, with seven each, the University of Jos with six, and the University of Ibadan, University of Lagos, and Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, with five grants apiece.
New Federal Universities Benefiting
The Executive Secretary disclosed that several new federal universities were among the beneficiaries in the 2025 funding cycle. These include the Federal University of Applied Sciences, Kachia; the Federal University of Environment and Technology, Koroma Saakpenwa, Ogoni; and the Federal University of Technology and Environmental Sciences, Iyin-Ekiti. According to him, their success is a positive development for the Federal Government's drive to strengthen research culture and innovation across emerging tertiary institutions.
State Universities and Polytechnics Included
State-owned universities also featured prominently among the beneficiaries, with institutions such as Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Ekiti State University, Kwara State University, Adamawa State University, Rivers State University, and Sokoto State University securing grants under the scheme. The polytechnic sector was not left out, as institutions including Federal Polytechnic Ilaro, Federal Polytechnic Bida, Federal Polytechnic Nekede, Federal Polytechnic Moguno, Federal Polytechnic Ile-Oluji, Federal Polytechnic Bauchi, Ramat Polytechnic Maiduguri, Kaduna Polytechnic, Yaba College of Technology, and Umaru Ali Shinkafi Polytechnic, Sokoto, received funding support.
Colleges of Education Beneficiaries
Among the Colleges of Education that secured grants were the College of Education, Katsina; Osun State College of Education, Ilesa; and Isa Kaita College of Education, Dutsin-Ma.
Commitment to Research and Future Cycles
While congratulating the successful researchers and institutions, the TETFund Executive Secretary described the awards as the outcome of a rigorous and transparent selection process aimed at supporting high-impact research capable of addressing Nigeria's development priorities. He further announced that preparations for the 2026 National Research Fund cycle would begin soon and encouraged academics and researchers across tertiary institutions to start developing innovative proposals and prepare their concept notes ahead of the commencement of applications.
