The Tertiary Education Trust Fund, TETFund, has awarded a total of N7.5 billion in research grants to 174 research teams across Nigerian tertiary institutions under the 2025 National Research Fund, NRF, Grant Cycle.
Executive Secretary of TETFund, Arc. Sonny Echono, announced the outcome of the grant cycle during a press briefing in Abuja on Thursday.
Echono said the successful proposals emerged after a rigorous and highly competitive selection process involving the submission and evaluation of concept notes, full proposals, and physical oral defence sessions.
According to him, the grants were approved following recommendations by the TETFund National Research Fund Screening and Monitoring Committee, NRFS&MC, with individual awards ranging from N13.7 million to N49.98 million.
He disclosed that the funded projects span critical areas of national development, including health and social welfare, agriculture and food security, science and engineering, power and energy, blue economy, education and human capital development, clean and affordable energy, gender and social inclusion, as well as conflict, defence and security.
Among the institutions that secured the highest number of grants, the Federal University of Technology, Minna led the pack with 18 awards, followed by the Federal University of Technology, Owerri with 11, and Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria with 10.
The University of Ilorin secured eight grants, while Bayero University, Kano and Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka received seven grants each.
Other institutions with notable performances include the University of Jos with six grants, while the University of Ibadan, University of Lagos and Usman Danfodiyo University, Sokoto secured five grants each.
The 2025 grant cycle also recorded the participation of newly established institutions, including the Federal University of Applied Sciences, Kachia; Federal University of Environment and Technology, Koroma Saakpenwa, Ogoni; and the Federal University of Technology and Environmental Sciences, Iyin-Ekiti.
Several state-owned institutions also emerged successful, among them Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Ekiti State University, Kwara State University, Adamawa State University, Rivers State University and Sokoto State University.
Polytechnics and Colleges of Education were not left out, with institutions such as Federal Polytechnic Ilaro, Federal Polytechnic Bida, Yaba College of Technology, Kaduna Polytechnic, College of Education Katsina, Osun State College of Education, Ilesa, and Isa Kaita College of Education, Dutsin-Ma securing grants.
Echono congratulated the successful institutions and research teams, describing the awards as the culmination of an exhaustive and transparent selection process.
He also disclosed that preparations for the 2026 NRF Grant Cycle would commence soon and urged scholars and researchers across Nigerian tertiary institutions to take advantage of the opportunity by submitting concept notes for the next round of funding.
He reiterated TETFund’s commitment to supporting impactful research capable of addressing national challenges and contributing to Nigeria’s socio-economic development.
