TETFund research grants receive a major boost as N7.5bn is approved for 174 projects aimed at advancing innovation and national development

The Tertiary Education Trust Fund has approved 174 research grants worth N7.5bn under the 2025 National Research Fund cycle, in a significant move to strengthen innovation, knowledge creation and economic development across Nigeria’s tertiary institutions.

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The Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, Sonny Echono, announced the approval on Thursday during a press conference in Abuja.

Echono said the Federal Government was increasing investment in research and development as a strategic tool for economic transformation, job creation and national growth.

According to him, research remains critical to unlocking Nigeria’s vast human and natural resources while fostering innovation in key sectors of the economy.

“We believe strongly that if we can use the knowledge in our tertiary institutions and we can harness those intellectual talents and deploy them efficiently, we will be able to better utilise our natural resources,” he said.

He noted that research-driven innovation has the potential to generate new products and services, improve productivity and contribute to national prosperity.

Explaining the selection process for the TETFund Research Grants, Echono said applicants initially submitted concept notes, which underwent preliminary evaluation before selected researchers were invited to present full proposals.

The proposals were subjected to further assessment, after which shortlisted candidates defended their projects before a panel in Abuja.

“The third stage, the shortlisted researchers were invited to Abuja, and they had to do oral presentations to defend their proposals. At the end of that, we had the eventual selection of the successful research proposals,” he said.

Echono disclosed that 174 grants were eventually approved across a broad range of strategic sectors.

“A total of 174 grants were recommended and approved. The programmes and projects cut across various thematic areas and the total amount recommended is N7.5bn,” he stated.

The grants cover priority areas including health and social welfare, agriculture and food security, sustainable natural resource management, science and engineering, power and energy, the blue economy, defence technology, clean energy, education, human capital development, gender equity, social inclusion and security studies.

According to Echono, individual grant awards range from N13.6m to N49.97m.

Among the beneficiaries, Federal University of Technology Minna emerged as the highest-performing institution with 18 approved grants.

It was followed by Federal University of Technology Owerri with 11 grants, while Ahmadu Bello University secured 10 grants.

University of Ilorin received eight grants, while Bayero University Kano and Nnamdi Azikiwe University secured seven grants each.

Echono noted that several newly established federal universities, state-owned institutions, polytechnics and colleges of education also featured among successful recipients, reflecting broader participation in the programme.

He congratulated the successful researchers and institutions and announced that preparations for the 2026 National Research Fund cycle would commence shortly.

“We encourage all researchers in the country to take advantage of that opportunity to participate in a process that is transparent, highly competitive and a learning experience,” he said.

The TETFund chief added that the initiative was helping Nigerian researchers become more competitive in attracting international research funding.

He explained that project implementation and fund disbursement are monitored through a dedicated committee comprising experienced academics, industry experts and representatives of major scholarly bodies.

According to him, payments are tied to specific performance milestones and approved work plans, ensuring accountability and reducing the risk of misuse.

Despite occasional project delays caused by challenges such as insecurity, Echono said the monitoring framework has remained effective.

In a notable milestone, he revealed that more than 55 patents have emerged from TETFund-supported research projects over the last three years.

“In fact, we have the number of patents that have come from our researchers in the last three years, about 55 of them,” he said.

Echono also announced plans for a National Research Fair in November, where researchers will showcase innovations and engage potential investors, manufacturers, financial institutions and other stakeholders.

He highlighted several innovations already developed through TETFund-backed research, including food preservation technologies, mechanised gari processing systems, improved crop varieties, water purification solutions, wind-powered energy technologies, hearing aids, electric vehicles and locally manufactured fire engines.

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The TETFund Research Grants programme forms part of ongoing efforts to address long-standing challenges in Nigeria’s tertiary education sector, including inadequate research funding, weak infrastructure and the need to align academic research more closely with national development priorities.