The Federal Government of Nigeria has approved N10 billion for the 2026 Grant Cycle of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) National Research Fund (NRF), representing a 64.2 per cent increase from the N6.09 billion allocated to 174 research projects during the 2025 cycle.

TETFund announced the development in its 2026 NRF Grant Cycle Call for Concept Notes, signed by its Executive Secretary, Arc. Sonny Echono.

Echono said the additional funding was intended to strengthen research activities and enhance the capacity of Nigerian researchers.

According to the agency, the NRF portal will open on August 31, 2026, for the submission of concept notes, with applications closing on October 15, 2026.

TETFund warned applicants that “There will be no extension.”

The N10 billion allocation will fund research covering 30 prioritised thematic areas. These areas are organised into Humanities and Social Sciences; Science, Engineering, Technology and Innovation; and Cross-Cutting research areas.

The Fund explained that researchers seeking access to the grant must first submit concept notes as Principal Investigators (PIs). Only projects considered fundable after the assessment process will advance to the full proposal stage.

Lecturers serving in public tertiary institutions across Nigeria are eligible to apply. TETFund also stated that multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary research involving scholars from different fields would be encouraged.

“The PI must be institution-based, with the PI’s institution regarded as the Coordinating Institution and guarantor of proper application of the funds for the project.

“Thereafter, the successful proposals for the award of grant will be presented to the Board of Trustees of TETFund for approval and disbursement of funds,” it said.

The Fund further reiterated that the Principal Investigator must be institution-based, while the PI’s institution will function as the coordinating institution and guarantee the proper use of funds allocated to the project.

TETFund said the entire application process would take place online through the National Research Fund portal.

All concept notes submitted by applicants will be assessed by the National Research Fund Screening and Monitoring Committee (NRFS&MC). Following the evaluation, successful Principal Investigators will be invited to prepare and submit full research proposals.

The Fund added that the Principal Investigator and at least one other member of the research team attached to proposals deemed fundable would be required to defend their projects before the committee.

Source: The Guardian