The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has announced the outcome of the 2025 National Research Fund (NRF) Grant Cycle, with the Federal University of Technology, Minna (FUT Minna) emerging as the top-performing institution among Nigerian universities.
The Executive Secretary of TETFund, Arch. Sonny Echono, disclosed this in Abuja on Thursday during an interaction with the press.
Echono said the results followed a rigorous and competitive selection process conducted by the TETFund National Research Fund Screening and Monitoring Committee (NRFS&MC).
He said: “A total of 174 grants were awarded to various research teams across thematic areas of national priority at a total sum of N7.5 billion.
“The amount awarded per grant to the various research teams ranges from N13,698,897.00 to N49,979,826.04.”
On institutional performance, he said FUT Minna led the table with 18 successful grants, followed by the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO) with 11 grants, and Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria with 10.
The University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) secured eight grants, while Bayero University, Kano (BUK), and Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka (UNIZIK), each winning seven.
The University of Jos (UNIJOS) recorded six grants, while the University of Ibadan (UI), the University of Lagos, Akoka (UNILAG), and Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS), each securing five grants.
Other beneficiaries, Echono said, included the Federal University of Applied Sciences, Kachia; Federal University of Environment and Technology, Koroma Saakpenwa, Ogoni; and the Federal University of Technology and Environmental Sciences, Iyin-Ekiti, among newly established institutions that made successful entries into the grant cycle.
The Executive Secretary also said state-owned universities featured prominently, with institutions such as Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Ekiti State University, Kwara State University, Adamawa State University, Rivers State University, and Sokoto State University among the beneficiaries.
He further said the grant award process began with the submission and evaluation of concept notes, followed by full proposal assessments and oral defence presentations in Abuja before final selection of successful research projects.
The approved research projects, according to him, cut across key national priority areas, including health and social welfare, agriculture and food security, sustainable management of natural resources and terrestrial ecosystems, science and engineering, power and energy, blue economy, innovation and technology in national defence capabilities, clean and affordable energy, education and human capital development, gender equity and social inclusion, as well as conflict, defence and security.
The TETFund boss also disclosed that several polytechnics benefitted from the grant cycle, including the Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro; Federal Polytechnic, Bida; Federal Polytechnic, Nekede; Federal Polytechnic, Moguno; Federal Polytechnic, Ile-Oluji; Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi; Ramat Polytechnic, Maiduguri.
Others were; Yaba College of Technology; Kaduna Polytechnic; and Umaru Ali Shinkafi Polytechnic, Sokoto.
Colleges of Education were also not left out, with the College of Education, Katsina; Osun State College of Education, Ilesa; and Isa Kaita College of Education, Dutsin-Ma securing grants under the cycle.
The Executive Secretary congratulated all successful institutions and research teams, describing the exercise as highly competitive and merit-driven. He said the conclusion of the 2025 cycle marked the end of the current round of selection processes.
He further disclosed that preparations for the 2026 NRF Grant Cycle would commence soon, urging researchers and scholars across tertiary institutions to take advantage of the opportunity by submitting strong concept notes when applications open.
“The Fund wishes to congratulate the institutions and the research teams that emerged successfully after such a rigorous and competitive selection process. This award marks the end of the selection process for the 2025 NRF grant cycle.
“The Fund will soon commence the process for the award of the 2026 NRF Grant Cycle. I call on scholars and researchers from various tertiary institutions who want to participate in the National Research Fund grants to take advantage of this opportunity and submit their concept notes for the 2026 cycle.”
