Tinubu approves 2026 TETFund intervention for 271 tertiary institutions

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the disbursement guidelines and release of the 2026 annual direct intervention funds of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) for 271 beneficiary institutions nationwide.
Under the 2026 intervention cycle, each beneficiary university will receive ₦2.

525 billion as annual direct intervention funding. Polytechnics are to get ₦1.871 billion each, while Colleges of Education will receive ₦2.056 billion per institution.
The approval was disclosed on Tuesday in Abuja by the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Arc. Sonny Echono, during a strategic stakeholders’ meeting with heads of beneficiary institutions. Allocation letters for the 2026 intervention were also formally issued at the event.
Echono explained that the annual direct disbursement accounts for about 90.75 per cent of the total intervention funds, comprising 50 per cent annual direct disbursements and 43.75 per cent special direct disbursements.
He commended President Tinubu for the timely approval of the 2026 Disbursement Guidelines, noting that the decision reflects the administration’s strong commitment to revitalising Nigeria’s tertiary education sector under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
According to him, all universities—regardless of age, size or enrolment—will receive ₦2,525,932,228.02 each. Polytechnics will get ₦1,871,059,920.53 apiece, while Colleges of Education will receive ₦2,056,527,973.04 each under the annual direct disbursement framework.
“These funds are designed to strengthen critical physical infrastructure, improve academic programmes, promote research and innovation, and drive overall transformation in Nigeria’s tertiary education system,” Echono said.
He added that TETFund has introduced a new intervention line under the 2026 annual direct intervention known as the Nigerian Research and Education Network (NgREN). The initiative aims to enhance access to global academic resources and integrate the Tertiary Education, Research, Applications and Services (TERAS) platform into NgREN from 2026.
“With these investments, 2026 promises significant growth, innovation, and measurable impact across beneficiary institutions,” he stated.
Echono said the Fund would continue to upgrade research and development offices, laboratories and workshops, while strengthening student exposure programmes through private-sector partnerships and direct construction initiatives.
He also disclosed that interventions in security infrastructure, completion of abandoned projects, ICT development, agricultural modernisation, and research commercialisation would be sustained.
According to him, multiple research laboratories are currently under development, with four expected to be completed and commissioned within the year, while two newly commenced projects are scheduled for completion next year.
In agriculture, Echono said university farms are being transitioned to modern greenhouse systems and mechanised equipment to boost productivity and reduce labour intensity.
He further urged heads of institutions to ensure full utilisation of their 2025 allocations, stressing that future allocations would be based on performance, enrolment figures and demonstrated progress.
“Institutions with unutilised funds will not receive additional allocations until existing resources are fully deployed. Applications for fund releases will be fast-tracked, and contractors will be paid within two weeks of milestone completion to prevent delays,” he said.
Echono identified delays in procurement planning and weak adoption of the TERAS platform as major challenges during the 2025 intervention cycle and advised institutions to commence procurement processes early to avoid setbacks in 2026.
He added that the Fund would closely monitor compliance, documentation quality, and utilisation of its platforms and guidelines in the new intervention year.