The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) has announced plans to disburse N6.452 billion to 271 public tertiary institutions across Nigeria under its 2026 intervention cycle.
According to a statement by the agency, the funds are aimed at improving physical infrastructure, strengthening academic programmes, and supporting research and innovation in the country’s higher education sector.
the Executive Secretary of TETFund,
Sunny Echono, disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja while reading out the figures at the Fund’s annual disbursement meeting.
According to Echono, each category of institution will receive substantial funding to support infrastructure, research and academic development.
He said, “Each university will receive a total of ₦2,525,932,228.02, while polytechnics will receive ₦1,871,059,920.53 each. Colleges of education will get ₦2,056,527,973.04 each.”
He added that the 2026 intervention cycle is structured around direct disbursements and designated projects.
“A breakdown of the disbursement cycle shows that 90.75 per cent is allocated to total direct disbursement, made up of 50 per cent annual direct disbursement and 40.75 per cent special direct disbursement.
“Designated projects account for 9.07 per cent, while stabilisation funds stand at 0.18 per cent, ” he said.
The TETFUND boss said the agency will continue investing in research laboratories, ICT development, agricultural facilities, and security infrastructure, while also strengthening partnerships with the private sector to improve student exposure and skills development.
Echono urged institutions to fully utilise their 2025 allocations, warning that schools with unspent funds may not qualify for future disbursements.
He added that future funding will be based on performance, enrolment, and effective utilisation of allocated resources.
He further identified delays in project approvals, procurement processes, and poor use of the TERAS platform as challenges faced in previous cycles, calling on institutions to address these issues promptly to ensure smooth implementation in 2026.
He commended President Tinubu for approving the guidelines, noting that the move aligns with the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda to reposition Nigeria’s tertiary education system.
According to Echono, the funds are designed to enhance infrastructure development, improve teaching and learning, and boost research output across universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.
He also announced the introduction of a new intervention line for 2026 known as the Nigerian Research and Education Network (NgREN), which aims to expand access to global academic resources and integrate the TERAS digital platform into the network.
On digital infrastructure, he added, “Our ICT roadmap will be further strengthened with expanded digital services, ICT Experience Centres, subscription-based internet access, and the continued advancement of the Tertiary Education Research Application Services, TERAS.”
Echono disclosed that TETFund had introduced a new intervention line for 2026 known as the Nigerian Research and Education Network (NgREN).
He explained that the initiative is designed to improve access to global academic resources and integrate the TERAS platform into NgREN from 2026.
“We are also expanding the special intervention projects to cover the establishment of Centres for Robotics, Coding and AI Machine Learning, as well as Centres for Cybersecurity Studies in selected beneficiary institutions,” he said.
The TETFund boss announced that 12 additional institutions would benefit from the commercial farm project.
“These will include two universities, eight polytechnics, and two colleges of education, ” he stated.
He added that the Fund would sustain the equipping and upgrading of research and development offices and continue student hostel development through Public-Private Partnerships.
Echono also commended the Federal Inland Revenue Service for its role in the collection of education tax.
“Let me extend our sincere gratitude to the Federal Inland Revenue Service and its leadership for the collection of Education Tax in 2025,” he said.
He expressed optimism that the new development levy under Nigeria’s revised tax regime would further strengthen TETFund’s capacity to deliver on its mandate.
As preparations begin for the 2026 intervention cycle, Echono urged beneficiary institutions to ensure full utilisation of their 2025 allocations.
“As we prepare to commence the 2026 intervention cycle, I urge all Heads of Beneficiary Institutions to ensure the full utilisation of their 2025 allocations,” he said, expressing confidence that 2026 would deliver “strengthened capacity, innovation, and measurable impact” across the tertiary education sector.
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