The Federal Government, through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), has approved research grants totaling N7.5 billion for 174 research projects aimed at advancing innovation, knowledge creation, and national development across Nigeria’s tertiary institutions.
According to TETFund, individual grants range from N13.6 million to N49.97 million, covering critical areas such as health and social welfare, agriculture, science and engineering, power and energy, clean energy, defence technology, security studies, and other strategic sectors.
Among the institutions with the highest number of approved research grants are the Federal University of Technology, Minna (18 projects), Federal University of Technology, Owerri (11 projects), Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (10 projects), and the University of Ilorin (8 projects).
Other major beneficiaries include Bayero University, Kano, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka (7 projects each), University of Jos (6 projects), as well as the University of Ibadan, University of Lagos, and Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, with five projects each.
TETFund also disclosed that newly established federal universities, state-owned universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education were among the successful beneficiaries, reflecting the Fund’s commitment to promoting inclusive research development across all categories of tertiary institutions.
Beneficiary institutions include the Federal University of Applied Sciences, Kachia, Federal University of Environment and Technology, Koroma/Saakpenwa, and the Federal University of Technology and Environmental Sciences, Iyin Ekiti, among other emerging institutions.
Several state-owned universities, including Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Ekiti State University, Kwara State University, Adamawa State University, Rivers State University, and Sokoto State University, also secured grants under the intervention.
In the polytechnic category, institutions such as Federal Polytechnic Ilaro, Federal Polytechnic Bida, Federal Polytechnic Nekede, Yaba College of Technology, Kaduna Polytechnic, and others were selected for funding.
Colleges of Education that benefited include the College of Education, Katsina, Osun State College of Education, Ilesa, and Isa Kaita College of Education, Dutsin-Ma.
TETFund noted that the research interventions are expected to stimulate innovation, enhance productivity, develop new products and services, and contribute significantly to Nigeria’s socio-economic growth and global competitiveness.
EduTimes Africa, a product of Education Times Africa, is a magazine publication that aims to lend its support to close the yawning gap in Africa's educational development.