TETFund 2026 National Research Fund (NRF) Grant Cycle (₦10 Billion Research Pool)
Funding Body: Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund)
Grant Pool: ₦10 Billion Total Envelope
Target Group: Lecturers and Researchers in Nigerian Public Universities, Polytechnics, and Colleges of Education
Application Phase: Concept Note Stage (Phase 1)
Focus Sectors: Science & Tech, Humanities & Social Sciences, Cross-Cutting Development Areas
Concept Note Deadline: October 15, 2026
About the NRF Grant
The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has officially opened the 2026 National Research Fund (NRF) Grant Cycle with an approved funding envelope of ₦10 Billion. The NRF intervention is designed to strengthen national research capacity and support multidisciplinary research projects aimed at solving critical developmental challenges in Nigeria.
Broad Research Categories & Priorities
The 2026 cycle covers 30 priority thematic areas divided across three main categories:
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Science, Engineering, Technology and Innovation: Agriculture & Food Security, Health & Social Welfare, Power & Energy, IT & Telecommunications, Transport, Space Science, Geosciences, and Industry Infrastructure.
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Humanities and Social Sciences: National Integration & Defence, Education & Human Capital, Governance & Security, Economic Development, Tourism, Social Welfare, and Gender Inclusion.
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Cross-Cutting Research: Clean & Affordable Energy, Entrepreneurship, Blue Economy, Environmental Development, and Science & Technology System Management.
Eligibility Criteria
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Principal Investigator (PI): Must be an institution-based lecturer or researcher in a Nigerian public university, polytechnic, or college of education.
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Institutional Requirements: The PI’s public tertiary institution serves as the coordinating guarantor for the grant. Preference is given to PIs of professorial cadre in universities or chief lecturers in polytechnics/colleges of education.
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Multidisciplinary Teams: Co-researchers and team members can be drawn from private tertiary institutions, research institutes, Centres of Excellence, or industry partners.
Application Process & Stages
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Concept Note Stage (Current): PIs register and submit a short Concept Note outlining the research problem, methodology, target outcomes, and team expertise.
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Evaluation: The National Research Fund Screening and Monitoring Committee (NRFS&MC) reviews submitted concept notes.
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Full Proposal Stage: Successful PIs whose concept notes pass evaluation will be invited to submit full research proposals.
How to Apply
All applications must be submitted online through the official TETFund NRF portal: