The Federal Government has approved a N4.2 billion grant for the funding of 158 research projects under the 2024 Grant Cycle of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) National Research Fund.

 

This approval, announced on Tuesday, follows the recommendation of the TETFund National Research Fund Screening and Monitoring Committee, which evaluated 6,944 submitted concept notes and selected 158 proposals after a thorough screening process.

 

A statement signed by TETFund’s Director of Public Affairs, Abdulmumin Oniyangi, on behalf of the Executive Secretary, Sonny Echono, detailed the funding breakdown:

 

N2.35 billion allocated to the Science, Engineering, Technology and Innovation category

 

N1.03 billion to Humanities and Social Sciences

 

N870.7 million to Cross-Cutting Research Areas

 

 

Top beneficiary institutions include:

 

Federal University of Technology, Minna – 15 projects (N400m)

 

Ahmadu Bello University – 13 projects (N359.8m)

 

Federal University of Technology, Akure – 12 projects (N341.6m)

 

Federal University of Technology, Owerri – 11 projects (N256.3m)

 

Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi – 10 projects (N273.4m)

 

University of Ilorin – 8 projects (N220.5m)

 

 

Some of the approved research topics include:

 

Sustainable eco-friendly walling systems for rural housing

 

Hybrid cubic fertilizers using plant-based binders

 

Intelligent aerial robotics for maize-cowpea farmland

 

AI-enabled medical monitoring systems for military use

 

Intelligent energy metering solutions

 

 

In a related move, the Federal Government also approved contracts for the creation of 18 Innovation and Entrepreneurship Hubs in TETFund beneficiary institutions across the six geo-political zones. The hubs will feature advanced laboratories in electronics, 3D printing, laser technology, AI, robotics, and product design.

 

Additionally, 15 institutions have been allocated funds for Innovation and Entrepreneurship Centres under the 2025 TETFund Intervention.

 

Federal University Dutse, University of Uyo, and University of Ibadan will each receive N1 billion

 

12 other polytechnics and colleges will each receive N750 million

 

 

These initiatives aim to drive research commercialization, support innovation, and strengthen Nigeria’s knowledge-based economy.