The Federal Government, through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), has approved N7.5 billion in research grants for 174 projects aimed at strengthening innovation, research output, and development across Nigeria’s tertiary institutions.

According to TETFund, the approved grants range from N13.6 million to N49.97 million per project, covering key national priority areas such as health and social welfare, agriculture, science and engineering, power and energy, clean and renewable energy, as well as defence technology and security studies.

The initiative is part of ongoing efforts to reposition Nigerian universities and research institutions for greater global competitiveness and practical innovation that can drive economic growth.

Beneficiary institutions include Federal University of Technology, Minna with 18 grants, Federal University of Technology, Owerri with 11 grants, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria with 10 grants, University of Ilorin with 8 grants, Bayero University, Kano with 7 grants, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka with 7 grants, University of Jos with 6 grants, University of Ibadan with 5 grants, University of Lagos with 5 grants, and Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto with 5 grants.

TETFund also confirmed that newly established federal universities, state-owned institutions, polytechnics, and colleges of education were included among the beneficiaries.

New federal universities listed include Federal University of Applied Sciences, Kachia, Kaduna State, Federal University of Environment and Technology, Koroma/Saakpenwa, Rivers State, and Federal University of Technology and Environmental Sciences, Iyin Ekiti.

State-owned institutions benefiting from the grants include Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Ekiti State University, Kwara State University, Adamawa State University, Rivers State University, and Sokoto State University.

Polytechnics featured in the intervention include Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, Federal Polytechnic, Bida, Federal Polytechnic, Nekede, Federal Polytechnic, Moguno, Federal Polytechnic, Ile-Oluji, Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi, Ramat Polytechnic, Maiduguri, Yaba College of Technology, Kaduna Polytechnic, and Umaru Ali Shinkafi Polytechnic, Sokoto.

Colleges of Education also benefiting include College of Education, Katsina, Osun State College of Education, Ilesa, and Isa Kaita College of Education, Dutsin-Ma.

TETFund stated that the research-driven initiative is expected to generate new products and services, improve productivity, and contribute significantly to national development an‌d economic prosperity.