The Federal Government has approved the disbursement of over ₦6 billion in intervention funds to 271 tertiary institutions across Nigeria in 2026.
The funds, released through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), will be allocated to universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education nationwide.
Speaking at the annual disbursement meeting in Abuja on Tuesday, TETFund Executive Secretary Sunny Echono provided a breakdown of the allocations. Each university will receive ₦2,525,932,228.02, polytechnics will get ₦1,871,059,920.53 each, while colleges of education will receive ₦2,056,527,973.04 each. The disbursement cycle consists of 90.75% direct funding, split into 50% annual direct disbursement and 40.75% special direct disbursement, while designated projects account for 9.07% and stabilisation funds 0.18%.
Echono, however, expressed concern over delays by some institutions in processing projects for approval and urged heads to plan procurement early to avoid setbacks. He also criticised the slow adoption of the TERAS platform, highlighting its role in improving research, training, and content management. “The Fund will be paying closer attention to its utilisation in 2026,” he said.
The TETFund boss outlined strategic priorities for the year, including strengthening security infrastructure and training, completing long-abandoned projects, and improving disaster recovery measures. Research and innovation will also remain a priority, supported through the National Research Fund, institutional R&D partnerships, the Research-Meets-Industry initiative, and commercialisation of research outcomes. Laboratory and agricultural development will receive a major boost, with new multipurpose laboratories, agricultural demonstration farms, and upgrades to existing facilities.
ICT infrastructure will be further enhanced through expanded digital services, ICT Experience Centers, subscription-based internet access, and the integration of the TERAS platform into the Nigerian Research and Education Network (NgREN). Special interventions will include the establishment of Centers for Robotics, Coding & AI Machine Learning, and Centers for Cybersecurity Studies in selected institutions. In addition, 12 institutions—two universities, eight polytechnics, and two colleges of education—will benefit from commercial farm projects.
Echono highlighted ongoing efforts to equip and upgrade R&D offices and continue the development of student hostels through Public–Private Partnerships (PPP). He also thanked the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) for its role in collecting the Education Tax in 2025 and urged institutions to fully utilise their 2025 allocations as the 2026 intervention cycle commences.
“With these investments, 2026 promises to be a year of growth, innovation, and measurable impact for Nigeria’s tertiary education sector,” Echono concluded.
