The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has announced plans to disburse ₦2.52 billion to each public university across the country under its 2026 intervention cycle, as part of efforts to strengthen infrastructure, research capacity and academic programmes in Nigeria’s tertiary education system.
Under the same intervention framework, polytechnics will receive ₦1.87 billion each, while colleges of education are slated to get ₦2.06 billion per institution.
The Executive Secretary of TETFund, Sonny Echono, disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja at the Fund’s 2026 Stakeholders’ Workshop, where allocation letters for beneficiary institutions were formally issued.
Echono explained that the 2026 intervention structure reflects a strategic allocation of resources, with total direct disbursement accounting for about 90.75 per cent of available funds. According to him, yearly direct disbursements represent 50 per cent, while special direct disbursements account for 43.75 per cent.
He said a total of 271 public tertiary institutions would benefit under the yearly direct disbursement window. “All universities, irrespective of age, size or student population, will receive ₦2,525,932,228.02 each. All polytechnics will get ₦1,871,059,920.53, while colleges of education will receive ₦2,056,527,973.04 per institution,” Echono stated.
The TETFund boss noted that the funds are targeted at addressing critical gaps in physical infrastructure, enhancing teaching and learning facilities, supporting academic staff development, and promoting research and innovation across the tertiary education sector.
He also announced the introduction of a new intervention line in the 2026 cycle known as the Nigerian Research and Education Network (NgREN). According to him, the initiative is designed to improve digital connectivity, collaboration and access to global research resources among Nigerian tertiary institutions.
“These interventions are aimed at driving a comprehensive transformation of Nigeria’s higher education system, ensuring our institutions remain competitive and capable of producing graduates equipped for national development,” Echono said.
Women Affairs Budget Nearly Doubled
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has nearly doubled the budgetary allocation to the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs in the 2026 Appropriation Bill, increasing it from ₦78.5 billion in 2025 to ₦154.3 billion in 2026.
Budget details show that the ministry is expected to receive a total of ₦154.32 billion, with ₦2.66 billion allocated for personnel costs, ₦1.25 billion for overheads, and a substantial ₦150.39 billion earmarked for capital expenditure.
The sharp rise in capital allocation signals a renewed policy focus on programmes and projects aimed at improving the welfare, protection and economic empowerment of women and girls across the country.
Gender advocates and civil society organisations have welcomed the increase, describing it as one of the most significant boosts the ministry has received in recent years. However, they have also stressed that effective fund release, transparency and utilisation will be critical to achieving measurable impact.
As at press time, the Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, had not issued an official response to the new allocation. Reacting to the development, National President of the Women in Politics Forum (WiPF), Ebere Ifendu, described the increase as commendable but cautioned that funding alone would not translate into results without strong implementation and accountability mechanisms.
