The Federal Government has approved the sum of N10 billion for the 2026 National Research Fund Grant Cycle of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).
TETFund, in a call for concept notes, said the grant will support research projects across 30 priority thematic areas under Humanities and Social Sciences, Science, Engineering, Technology and Innovation, and Cross-Cutting fields.
DailyVista247 gathered that the 2026 grant cycle follows the successful completion of the 2025 cycle, which resulted in the award of over N6.09 billion to support 174 research projects across public tertiary institutions.
According to TETFund, accessing the 2026 NRF grant will begin with the submission of concept notes by Principal Investigators of proposed research projects.
Only Principal Investigators whose concept notes are evaluated and considered fundable will be invited to submit full proposals for further screening.
Who can apply?
TETFund said lecturers in public tertiary institutions in Nigeria are eligible to apply for the grant.
It added that multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary research involving researchers from various disciplines is encouraged to promote collaboration and innovation.
The Principal Investigator will lead the research team and be responsible and accountable for the conduct of the research throughout the project duration.
TETFund also requires the Principal Investigator to be institution-based, with the institution serving as the coordinating institution and guarantor of the proper application of funds for the project.
How to apply
The application process is entirely online and straightforward.
Eligible Principal Investigators are required to visit the TETFund National Research Fund portal at nrf.tetfund.gov.ng, where they will be guided through the preparation and submission of their concept notes.
Applicants are encouraged to study the Research Brief and application Guidelines before submitting their concept notes to ensure compliance with requirements.
All submitted concept notes will be evaluated by the National Research Fund Screening and Monitoring Committee set up by TETFund.
Principal Investigators with successful concept notes will be notified and invited to prepare and submit full proposals online through the same portal.
The Principal Investigator and at least one member of the research team behind a proposal that is screened and adjudged fundable will be invited to defend the proposal before the committee.
Successful proposals will then be presented to the TETFund Board of Trustees for approval and disbursement of funds to the respective institutions.
When is the deadline?
TETFund said the portal will open for submission of concept notes on August 31, 2026, and will remain open for several weeks.
The deadline for submission is October 15, 2026, Nigerian time, and applicants are advised to submit early to avoid last-minute challenges.
The fund stressed that there will be no extension after the deadline, and all interested researchers are urged to comply promptly.
For enquiries, applicants can contact the TETFund NRF Secretariat through zanginas@tetfund.gov.ng, odoju@tetfund.gov.ng, ukimci@tetfund.gov.ng and ugwubs@tetfund.gov.ng.
The call was signed by the TETFund Executive Secretary, Arc. Sonny S. T. Echono.
