Chidimma Uchegbu -Abuja
The Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, Arc. Sonny S. T. Echono, has said the year 2026 is a year of growth, innovation, and measurable impact for the fund.
Echono made the statement at the strategic workshop with heads of institutions on the 2026 disbursement guidelines on Tuesday in Abuja saying that the Total Direct Disbursement is 90.75% consisting of Annual Direct Disbursement 50.00%, and special Direct Disbursement 40.75%. Designated projects 9.07% , stabilization Funds 0.18%.
According to the Executive Secretary, Under the Annual Direct Disbursement, 271 beneficiary institutions are expected to receive allocation as follows:
Universities: – N2,525,932,228.02 per University; Polytechnics: – N1,871,059,920.53 per Polytechnic; and Colleges of Education:- N2,056,527,973.04 per College of Education
These funds are meant to strengthen critical physical infrastructure, enhance academic programmes, boost research and innovation, and drive overall transformation in Nigeria’s tertiary education sector.
Furthermore, to strengthen the quality and impact of research in our beneficiary institutions, the Fund has introduced a new Intervention Line in the Year 2026 annual direct intervention, which is the Nigerian Research and Education Network (Ng REN).
“The new intervention line aims to improve access to global academic resources and to integrate the Tertiary Education, Research, Applications and Services (TERAS) platform into NgREN with effect from 2026 Intervention,” he said.
“We are also expanding the Special intervention projects to cover the establishment of the Centers for Robotics, Coding and AI Machine Learning, and Centre for Cybersecurity Studies in selected beneficiary institutions.
“Additional 12 beneficiary institutions shall benefit from the commercial farm project these will be two universities, eight polytechnics and two colleges of education.
The Fund has sustained its equipping and upgrade of research and development offices in beneficiary institutions and shall continue the development of student hostel project through Public–Private Partnerships.
Also we are sustaining intervention in addressing security infrastructure and training, completing long-abandoned projects, and strengthening disaster recovery measures.
Research and innovation remain a priority, with support for the National Research Fund, institutional R&D partnerships, the Research-meets-Industry initiative, and commercialization of research outcomes amongst others.
“Laboratory and agricultural development will receive a major boost. We are enhancing the ongoing multipurpose laboratory projects, setting up two new ones, and creating new agricultural laboratories and demonstration farms.
“Our ICT roadmap will be further strengthened with expanded digital services, ICT Experience Centers, subscription-based internet access, and the continued advancement of the Tertiary Education Research Application Services, TERAS.
With these strategic interventions, 2026 promises to be a year of strengthened capacity, innovation, and measurable impact across Nigeria’s tertiary education sector.
“He extend his sincere gratitude to the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), and its leadership, for the collection of Education Tax in 2025.
“As we look forward to the implementation of the development levy in the new tax regime, the diligent efforts of FIRS, in collaboration with all the beneficiary and other agencies will enable us continue to deliver on our mandate and achieve our set goals in the coming years.
“As we prepare to commence the Year 2026 intervention cycle, I urge all Heads of Beneficiary Institutions to ensure the full utilization of their 2025 allocations and look forward to an engaging interaction that will further shape our interventions”, he concluded.
Join the Conversation