For the Tertiary Education Trust Fund's (TETFund) 2026 National Research Fund (NRF) award cycle, the federal government has approved N10 billion.

The organization stated that the award would support research projects across 30 priority theme areas in a request for concept notes signed on Saturday by TETFund executive secretary Sonny Echono.

According to TETFund, the 2026 grant cycle came after the 2025 cycle was successfully completed and over N6.09 billion was awarded to fund 174 research projects.

Principal investigators of proposed research projects must submit concept notes in order to be eligible for the 2026 NRF grant, according to TETFund.

Full proposals will only be accepted from main investigators whose concept notes have been reviewed and deemed fundable.

According to TETFund, instructors at Nigeria's public universities are qualified to apply for the grant.

The entire application process takes place online.

To prepare and submit their concept notes, eligible principal investigators must access to the TETFund National Research Fund portal at nrf.tetfund.gov.ng.

Before submitting their concept notes, applicants are advised to review the application rules and research brief.

The National Research Fund Screening and Monitoring Committee will review each concept note that is submitted.

According to TETFund, concept notes can be submitted through the portal starting on August 31, 2026. Submissions must be made by October 15, 2026.

Source