TETFund Opens ₦10bn National Research Fund 2026, Invites Nigerian Researchers

ABUJA – The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has opened applications for its ₦10 billion National Research Fund (NRF) 2026 Grant Cycle, inviting eligible Nigerian researchers to submit concept notes for funding.

The announcement follows the successful completion of the 2025 grant cycle, during which 174 research projects received approximately ₦6.09 billion in funding.

In a notice signed by TETFund Executive Secretary, Arc. Sonny S. T. Echono, the Fund disclosed that the Federal Government has approved ₦10 billion for the 2026 research programme.

According to the Fund, the grant process begins with the submission of concept notes by Principal Investigators. Only proposals considered fundable after the initial screening will proceed to the full proposal stage.

TETFund said research proposals would be accepted across 30 priority thematic areas, grouped under Humanities and Social Sciences, Science, Engineering, Technology and Innovation, as well as Cross-Cutting themes.

The priority areas include agriculture, food security, clean energy, entrepreneurship, economic development, blue economy, citizenship, national integration and innovation systems.

Eligibility is limited to lecturers in Nigeria’s public tertiary institutions, with multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary research teams strongly encouraged.

The Fund explained that the Principal Investigator must be institution-based, lead the research team and assume responsibility for the proper execution of the research project and utilisation of grant funds.

Applications will be processed entirely online through nrf.tetfund.gov.ng.

All concept notes will be evaluated by the National Research Fund Screening and Monitoring Committee. Successful applicants will later defend their proposals before recommendations are forwarded to the TETFund Board of Trustees for final approval.

The application portal opens on August 31, 2026, while submissions close on October 15, 2026. TETFund stated that no extension would be granted after the deadline.

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Otamere Gladness

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Otamere Gladness, a Political Science graduate, is interning with Africa Health Report (AHR) as a multimedia journalist. With experience in photography and digital content creation, she produces compelling visual narratives that shed light on both the challenges and resilience within health systems and underserved communities across Africa. X (Twitter): @glad_nex

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