The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has awarded research grants worth N7.5 billion to 174 research teams across Nigerian tertiary institutions under the 2025 national research fund (NRF) grant cycle.
Announcing the outcome of the grant cycle at a press briefing in Abuja on Thursday, Sonny Echono, executive secretary of TETFund, said the grants were awarded after a rigorous and competitive selection process conducted by the national research fund screening and monitoring committee (NRFS&MC).
Echono said the selection process involved the submission and evaluation of concept notes, assessment of full research proposals, oral defence sessions in Abuja, and final selection of successful projects.
According to him, the grants were awarded across thematic areas aligned with national development priorities, including health and social welfare, agriculture and food security, science and engineering, power and energy, education and human capital development, gender and social inclusion, conflict and security, blue economy, clean and affordable energy, and innovation in national defence capabilities.
He said individual grants ranged from N13.7 million to N49.98 million.
The TETFund boss disclosed that the Federal University of Technology (FUT), Minna, emerged as the highest-performing institution with 18 successful research grants.
It was followed by the Federal University of Technology (FUT), Owerri, with 11 grants, and Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, with 10.
Other institutions with strong performances include the University of Ilorin with eight grants, Bayero University Kano and Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka with seven each, and the University of Jos with six.
The University of Ibadan, University of Lagos and Usman Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, secured five grants each.
Echono said newly established institutions also featured among the beneficiaries, including 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.
Several state-owned institutions also secured grants, 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 that emerged successful include Federal Polytechnic Ilaro, Federal Polytechnic Bida, Federal Polytechnic Nekede, Federal Polytechnic Moguno, Federal Polytechnic Ile-Oluji, Federal Polytechnic Bauchi, Ramat Polytechnic Maiduguri, Yaba College of Technology, Kaduna Polytechnic and Umaru Ali Shinkafi Polytechnic, Sokoto.
Among colleges of education, beneficiaries include the College of Education Katsina, Osun State College of Education Ilesa and Isa Kaita College of Education, Dutsin-Ma.
Echono congratulated the successful institutions and research teams, describing the grants as a reward for excellence following a highly competitive process.
He added that the conclusion of the 2025 NRF grant cycle clears the way for the commencement of the 2026 cycle.
The TETFund executive secretary urged researchers and scholars across Nigerian tertiary institutions to begin preparing and submitting concept notes for the next round of grants.
“We wish to congratulate the institutions and research teams that emerged successful after such a rigorous and competitive selection process,” he said.
“The fund will soon commence the process for the award of the 2026 NRF grant cycle. We encourage scholars and researchers to take advantage of this opportunity and submit their concept notes.”
