The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has awarded research grants worth N7.5 billion to 174 research teams from tertiary institutions across Nigeria under the 2025 National Research Fund (NRF) cycle.
The grants followed a rigorous and highly competitive selection process involving the submission of concept notes, proposal evaluations, and oral defence sessions conducted in Abuja.
Speaking at a press briefing at the Fund’s headquarters in Abuja on Thursday, the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Arc. Sonny Echono, disclosed that the successful projects were selected after extensive assessment by the National Research Fund Screening and Monitoring Committee (NRFS&MC).
According to him, the approved research projects span critical sectors of national development, including health, agriculture, food security, education, energy, science and engineering, national defence, technology, the blue economy, conflict resolution, gender inclusion, and environmental sustainability.
Arc. Echono stated that the grants awarded to individual research teams range from N13.69 million to N49.98 million, depending on the scope and strategic relevance of the 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 process commenced with the submission of concept notes, after which shortlisted applicants were invited to submit full proposals and defend them before final approval was granted.
The Federal University of Technology, Minna, recorded the highest number of successful applications with 18 grants, followed by the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, with 11 grants. Ahmadu Bello University secured 10 grants, while the University of Ilorin received eight.
Other institutions with notable performances included Bayero University, Kano, and Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, with seven grants each; the University of Jos with six grants; and the University of Ibadan, University of Lagos, and Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, with five grants each.The Executive Secretary also disclosed that several newly established federal universities emerged among the beneficiaries of 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.