Otamere Gladness 
ABUJA, Nigeria – The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) unveils its 2026 Disbursement Guidelines, signalling an expanded focus on research, artificial intelligence, and digital infrastructure across Nigeria’s tertiary institutions.
The policy direction emerges on Tuesday at a strategic meeting with heads of beneficiary institutions in Abuja, where TETFund reviews the 2025 intervention cycle and outlines priorities for 2026.
Speaking through the Director of Polytechnics Education, Dr Ejeh Usman, Executive Secretary Arc. Sonny Echono credits President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approving the guidelines, describing education as central to the Renewed Hope Agenda.
“Our engagement today centres on the 2026 Disbursement Guidelines and strengthening accountability in fund utilisation,” Echono says.
Under the new framework, 90.75 per cent of funds go to direct disbursements, with universities receiving ₦2.52 billion each, polytechnics ₦1.87 billion, and colleges of education ₦2.05 billion.
New intervention areas include the Nigerian Research and Education Network (NgREN), expanded AI and robotics centres, machine learning, cybersecurity, smart agriculture, and enhanced ICT integration through the TERAS platform.
Reflecting on 2025, Echono highlights progress in medical school rehabilitation, campus security, PPP hostels, simulation centres, student start-up grants and staff support schemes.
However, he warns institutions against procurement delays and non-compliance.
“We will intensify monitoring of the TERAS platform in 2026. Early planning and documentation are no longer optional,” he says.
Education stakeholders describe the blueprint as a strategic shift toward positioning Nigeria as a global research and innovation hub.
About the Author
Oluwatobi Adu 
Hussaini Ibrahim 