The Federal Government has approved the disbursement of 2026 intervention funds to 271 tertiary institutions across the country through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), marking a major boost for universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.
Speaking at the annual disbursement meeting held in Abuja on Tuesday, Executive Secretary of TETFund, Mr. Sunny Echono, disclosed that each university would receive ₦2.53 billion, polytechnics ₦1.87 billion, while colleges of education would get ₦2.06 billion under the 2026 intervention cycle.
Echono explained that the disbursement structure comprises 90.75 per cent direct funding, broken into 50 per cent annual direct disbursement and 40.75 per cent special direct disbursement, alongside 9.07 per cent for designated projects and 0.18 per cent for stabilisation funds.
However, he expressed concern over persistent delays by some beneficiary institutions in processing projects for approval and completing due procurement procedures.
“These delays are largely avoidable. Heads of institutions must begin procurement planning early to ensure smooth implementation,” Echono cautioned.
He also lamented the slow adoption of the Tertiary Education Research Applications and Services (TERAS) platform by some institutions, warning that TETFund would closely monitor compliance in 2026.
“Better documentation and a clear understanding of our guidelines, especially for training and content intervention lines, are essential to reducing the challenges faced by scholars,” he added.
In a major policy shift aimed at strengthening research and global academic connectivity, Echono announced the introduction of a new intervention line—the Nigerian Research and Education Network (NgREN)—under the 2026 annual direct intervention.
According to him, NgREN will improve access to global academic resources and integrate TERAS into a unified national research and education network from 2026.
“With these investments, 2026 promises to be a year of growth, innovation and measurable impact,” he said.
The TETFund boss further revealed plans to expand special intervention projects, including the establishment of Centres for Robotics, Coding and AI/Machine Learning, as well as Centres for Cybersecurity Studies in selected institutions.
He added that 12 additional institutions—two universities, eight polytechnics and two colleges of education—would benefit from the commercial farm project, while the Fund would sustain the upgrading of R&D offices and the development of student hostels through Public–Private Partnerships (PPPs).
Echono also assured that TETFund would continue interventions in security infrastructure, completion of abandoned projects, disaster recovery, and research commercialisation through initiatives such as the National Research Fund and Research-Meets-Industry programme.
Laboratory and agricultural development are also set for a major boost, with ongoing multipurpose laboratory projects, two new laboratories, and additional agricultural labs and demonstration farms planned for 2026.
On ICT development, he said TETFund would strengthen its digital roadmap through expanded services, ICT Experience Centres, improved internet access, and continued advancement of the TERAS platform.
He commended the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) for the successful collection of education tax in 2025, expressing optimism that the new development levy under the reformed tax regime would further enhance TETFund’s capacity to deliver on its mandate.
As preparations begin for the 2026 intervention cycle, Echono urged heads of beneficiary institutions to ensure full utilisation of their 2025 allocations to maximise the impact of the Fund’s interventions across Nigeria’s tertiary education sector.