The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has announced plans to release N6.452 billion to 271 tertiary institutions under its 2026 intervention cycle to strengthen physical infrastructure, enhance academic programmes, and boost research and innovation across Nigeria’s higher education sector.
The disbursement guidelines, approved by President Bola Tinubu, will see funds released directly to beneficiary universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education nationwide.
Under the 2026 cycle, universities will receive N2.525 billion each, polytechnics N1.871 billion, and colleges of education N2.056 billion per institution, according to TETFund Executive Secretary Sonny Echono. He disclosed this during a stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja on Tuesday, where allocation letters were also distributed.
Echono explained that the total annual direct disbursement accounts for 90.75 per cent of the funds, split between annual direct interventions (50%) and special direct interventions (43.75%). He commended President Tinubu for his timely approval of the guidelines and commitment to the tertiary education sector under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
“All universities, regardless of size or enrolment, will receive N2,525,932,228.02, polytechnics N1,871,059,920.53, and colleges of education N2,056,527,973.04 each. These funds will strengthen infrastructure, enhance academic programmes, and drive research and innovation,” Echono said.
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Highlighting efforts to boost research, the TETFund introduced a new Nigerian Research and Education Network (NgREN) intervention line for 2026. The initiative aims to improve access to global academic resources and integrate the Tertiary Education, Research, Applications and Services (TERAS) platform with NgREN.
Echono also noted continued investments in research and development, laboratories, ICT infrastructure, and student exposure programmes through private-sector partnerships. “Four research laboratories are slated for completion this year, with two more scheduled for next year. University farms are being modernised with greenhouses and advanced equipment to enhance productivity,” he added.
The executive secretary emphasised accountability, urging institutions to fully utilise their 2025 allocations. “Future funding will be performance-based. Institutions with unutilised funds will not receive additional allocations until existing resources are deployed,” Echono warned.
He also highlighted challenges from the previous cycle, including delays in project approvals and underutilisation of the TERAS platform. “Beneficiary institutions must improve procurement planning and engage fully with TETFund platforms to ensure effective deployment of resources in 2026,” he said.
Echono stressed that TETFund will continue supporting knowledge sharing, skill development, and prompt contractor payments, with releases processed quickly to avoid delays.
“With these interventions, 2026 promises to be a year of growth, measurable impact, and innovation across Nigeria’s tertiary education sector,” he concluded.
