TETFund Unveils 2026 Disbursement Plan: Universities to Receive ₦2.5bn Each
TETFund Unveils 2026 Disbursement Plan: Universities to Receive ₦2.5bn Each
The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has officially released its 2026 disbursement guidelines, earmarking billions of naira for the transformation of Nigeria’s public tertiary institutions.
Under the new cycle approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, each federal and state university in the country is set to receive a direct allocation of ₦2,525,932,228.02. Polytechnics will receive ₦1,871,059,920.53 each, while Colleges of Education have been allocated ₦2,056,527,973.04 per institution.
The Executive Secretary of TETFund, Arc. Sonny S.T. Echono, announced these figures on Tuesday during a strategic workshop with Heads of Beneficiary Institutions at the Fund’s headquarters in Abuja.
Focus on Research, AI, and Food Security
A major highlight of the 2026 cycle is the introduction of the Nigerian Research and Education Network (NgREN) as a new intervention line.
This move aims to integrate the Tertiary Education, Research, Applications and Services (TERAS) platform into a global academic resource network.
Echono also revealed that the Fund is expanding its special projects to include:
* Technology Hubs: Establishment of Centers for Robotics, Coding, AI Machine Learning, and Cybersecurity Studies.
* Agriculture: Twelve additional institutions (2 universities, 8 polytechnics, and 2 colleges of education) will benefit from commercial farm projects and the creation of new agricultural laboratories.
* Student Welfare: The continuation of the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) hostel development initiative and the rollout of Student Start-up and Innovation Grants.
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Addressing Delays and Security
Despite the progress recorded in 2025, Echono issued a stern warning to institutional heads regarding administrative bottlenecks. He expressed concern over “undue delays” in processing project approvals and a “reluctant utilization” of digital platforms like TERAS.
“Beneficiaries are advised to execute their procurement planning processes early enough to avoid these delays,” Echono said. “The Fund will be paying closer attention to this in 2026.”
In response to national challenges, the Executive Secretary noted that TETFund is sustaining its support for campus security infrastructure and the provision of electric tricycles to ease campus transportation.
At a Glance: 2026 Disbursement Breakdown
| Institution Type | Allocation Per School |
– Universities | ₦2,525,932,228.02 |
-Colleges of Education | ₦2,056,527,973.04 |
-Polytechnics | ₦1,871,059,920.53 |
Total Distribution Structure:
* Annual Direct Disbursement: 50.00%
* Special Direct Disbursement: 40.75%
* Designated Projects: 9.07%
* Stabilization Funds: 0.18%
Presidential Backing
Echono credited the timely release of the guidelines to the “Renewed Hope Agenda” of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the speedy transmission of the documents by the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Alausa.
He concluded by urging institutional heads to ensure the full utilization of their remaining 2025 allocations to pave the way for the 2026 projects, which he promised would be a year of “growth, innovation, and measurable impact.”
