The Tertiary Education Trust Fund, TETFund, has announced the disbursement of N2.525 billion to each university in its 2026 intervention cycle, while polytechnics will receive N1.871 billion each and college of education N2.056 billion each.
Executive Secretary of TETFund, Arch. Sonny Echono, disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja at a Stakeholders’ Workshop with heads of beneficiary institutions, where allocation letters for the 2026 intervention were formally distributed.
Echono said the total direct disbursement represents about 90.75 per cent of available funds, comprising 50 per cent annual direct disbursements and 43.75 per cent special direct disbursements.
According to him, under the annual direct intervention, 271 beneficiary institutions will receive uniform allocations irrespective of age, size or enrolment.
He said each university will receive a total of N2,525,932,228.02, polytechnics N1,871,059,920.53, and Colleges of Education N2,056,527,973.04.
“These funds are designed to strengthen critical physical infrastructure, enhance academic programmes, boost research and innovation, and drive holistic transformation across Nigeria’s tertiary education sector,” Echono said.
He added that the 2026 intervention introduces a new funding line, the Nigerian Research and Education Network, NgREN, aimed at improving access to global academic resources and integrating the Tertiary Education, Research, Applications and Services, TERAS, platform into NgREN.
“This initiative will significantly enhance research quality and impact. With these investments, 2026 promises to be a year of growth, innovation and measurable outcomes for our institutions,” he said.
Echono noted that TETFund will continue upgrading research and development offices, laboratories and workshops, while expanding student exposure programmes through private-sector partnerships and direct construction projects.
He said interventions in security infrastructure, completion of abandoned projects, and improvements in design and technical collaboration would also be sustained.
Speaking on research and innovation, he said it remains central to the Fund’s mandate, with continued support for the National Research Fund, the Research Meets Industry initiative, and the commercialisation of research outputs.
On ICT, Echono disclosed that several research laboratories are under development, with four expected to be completed and commissioned this year, while two newly commenced labs are scheduled for completion next year.
He also disclosed that large university farms are being transitioned to modern greenhouse systems and mechanised equipment to boost productivity and reduce labour intensity.
“Our ICT roadmap will be strengthened through expanded digital services, experience centres, substation-based internet access, and advanced international education and research services.
“We are also assessing how institutions utilise allocated resources, which will guide discretionary and performance-based allocations,” he added.
The TETFund boss urged heads of institutions to fully utilise their 2025 allocations, warning that future disbursements would be tied to performance, enrolment levels and demonstrated project execution.
“Institutions with unutilised funds will not receive fresh allocations until existing resources are fully deployed. We are committed to prompt processing of fund releases, and contractors will be paid within two weeks of milestone completion to prevent delays,” he assured.
Also speaking, Chairman of the TETFund Board of Trustees, Hon. Aminu Bello Masari, underscored the importance of public engagement, transparency and accountability in the management of the Fund.
Masari said TETFund remains one of the few public institutions where funds are disbursed directly to beneficiary institutions without political interference, noting that sustained public support was critical to its survival, especially during debates around tax reforms that once threatened the Fund’s existence.
“TETFund is an intervention agency, not a replacement for the responsibilities of the federal and state governments as owners of these institutions. However, its impact has become so significant that public participation in its oversight is essential,” he said.
He urged vice-chancellors, rectors and provosts to improve collaboration with their governing councils to avoid deliberate delays in fund utilisation, warning that failure to deploy allocated resources could affect future funding.
“If funds are not utilised, it becomes difficult to justify additional allocations. Performance, utilisation and enrolment matter,” Masari said, cautioning institutional heads to focus on legacies that would positively define their tenure.
“You will all be former office holders one day. What will matter is how you are remembered — by the contributions you made to your institutions,” he added.
