The disclosure was made on Tuesday by Executive Secretary Sonny Echono during a stakeholders’ workshop in Abuja, where heads of beneficiary institutions were briefed on the 2026 disbursement guidelines.
Echono explained that under the planned allocations, each university will receive N2.525 billion, each polytechnic N1.871 billion, and each college of education N2.056 billion. Allocation letters for the intervention have already been distributed to all beneficiary institutions.
The executive secretary said the total direct disbursement accounted for about 90.75 percent of the intervention funds, comprising 50 percent as annual direct disbursements and 43.75 percent as special direct disbursements.
“Under the annual direct disbursement component, 271 beneficiary institutions will receive allocations. All universities, regardless of age, size, or enrolment, will each receive ₦2,525,932,228.02, polytechnics N1,871,059,920.53, and colleges of education N2,056,527,973.04,” Echono said.
According to him, the funds are intended to strengthen critical physical infrastructure, enhance academic programmes, boost research and innovation, and drive overall transformation in Nigeria’s tertiary education sector. He also emphasised that the intervention would improve the quality and impact of research in the beneficiary institutions.
“This new intervention line aims to improve access to global academic resources and integrate the Tertiary Education, Research, Applications and Services (TERAS) platform into NgREN starting from the 2026 intervention. With these investments, 2026 promises to be a year of growth, innovation, and measurable impact,” Echono said.
The executive secretary further noted that TETFund would continue to equip and upgrade research and development offices, laboratories, and workshops, while strengthening student exposure programmes through private-sector partnerships and direct construction initiatives.
He said the fund would maintain interventions in security infrastructure, complete long-abandoned projects, and enhance design-technical collaborations. Research and innovation remain central, with support for the National Research Fund, the Research Meets Industry initiative, and the commercialisation of research outputs. ICT development is also a continued priority.
Echono highlighted ongoing projects in research laboratories, stating that four labs are expected to be completed and commissioned this year, with two more scheduled for completion next year. In agriculture, large university farms are being transitioned to modern greenhouses and mechanised equipment to increase productivity and reduce labor intensity.
“Our ICT roadmap will be strengthened through expanded digital services, substation-based internet access, and advanced international education research and application services,” he added.
He urged all heads of institutions to fully utilise their 2025 allocations, warning that future funding would be based on performance, enrolment, and demonstrated progress.
“Institutions with unutilised funds will not receive additional allocations until existing resources are deployed. We are promoting knowledge sharing, supporting initiatives that enhance skills, and ensuring prompt payment to contractors. Applications for fund releases will be processed quickly, and contractors will be paid within two weeks of milestone completion to avoid delays,” Echono concluded.