The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has announced the launch of the 2025 Grant Cycle for its National Research Fund (NRF), following the approval of N7.5 billion by the Federal Government.
This new cycle begins with a call for the submission of Concept Notes from researchers across Nigeria’s public tertiary institutions.
This development comes after the conclusion of the 2024 Grant Cycle, where TETFund awarded nearly N4.25 billion to support 158 research projects. According to the agency, the new funding represents a strategic move to promote research and innovation that can tackle Nigeria’s development challenges.
“The process of accessing the 2025 NRF Grant starts with the Call for Concept Notes,” TETFund said in an official release. It added that only Principal Investigators (PIs) whose Concept Notes are successful will be invited to submit full research proposals.
The Concept Note stage serves as the first screening step in a multi-layered application process designed to ensure only high-impact and fundable projects are selected for the full grant. This aligns with the goal of boosting national productivity and supporting sustainable development through focused academic research.
The NRF 2025 Grant Cycle covers a wide range of thematic areas grouped under three broad categories: Humanities and Social Sciences (HSS), Science, Engineering, Technology and Innovation (SETI), and Cross-Cutting (CC) issues.
a. Category 1
Humanities and Social Sciences (HSS)
Thematic Area 1 – Citizenship and National Integration
Thematic Area 2 – Conflict, Defense and Security
Thematic Area 3 – Economic Development and Globalization
Thematic Area 4 – Education and Human Capital
Thematic Area 5 – Gender, Equity and Social Inclusion
Thematic Area 6 – Governance, Politics, Law and Ethics
Thematic Area 7 – History, Culture and Identities
Thematic Area 8 – Humanities, Social Sciences, Technology and Business Interface
Thematic Area 9 – Languages, Literatures and Media
Thematic Area 10 – Population and Migration
Thematic Area 11 – Social Development and Welfare
Thematic Area 12 – Tourism, Sports and Recreation
b. Category 2
Science, Engineering, Technology and Innovation (SETI)
Thematic Area 13 – Agriculture and Food Security
Thematic Area 14 – Geosciences
Thematic Area 15 – Health and Social Welfare
Thematic Area 16 – Industry and Innovation
Thematic Area 17 – Information Technology, Computing and Telecommunications
Thematic Area 18 – Power and Energy
Thematic Area 19 – Science and Engineering
Thematic Area 20 – Space Science and Technology
Thematic Area 21 – Sustainable use of Natural Resources and Terrestrial Ecosystems
Thematic Area 22 – Transport and Infrastructure
Thematic Area 23 – Water and Sanitation
c. Category 3
Cross-Cutting (CC)
Thematic Area 24 – Blue Economy
Thematic Area 25 – Clean and Affordable Energy
Thematic Area 26 – Entrepreneurship and Wealth Creation
Thematic Area 27 – Environment, Housing, Urban and Regional Development
Thematic Area 28 – Innovation and Technology in National Defence Capabilities
Thematic Area 29 – Resource Governance
Thematic Area 30 – National System of Innovation
Eligibility:
TETFund stated that eligible applicants must meet specific criteria to access the research fund. These include academic ranking, institutional affiliation, and team structure.
1. Lecturers in Public Tertiary Institutions in Nigeria are eligible
2. Multidisciplinary and Interdisciplinary researches, comprising researchers from various disciplines, are encouraged
3. The Principal Investigator (PI), who must not be below the rank of a Senior Lecturer in a University or Principal Lecturer in a Polytechnic or College of Education, will lead the Research Team and be personally responsible and held accountable for the conduct of the research
4. An added requirement is that the PI must be institution-based, with the PI’s institution regarded as the Coordinating Institution and guarantor of proper application of the funds for the project
The submission portal will open on 1st August 2025. Researchers have until 28th August 2025 to submit their Concept Notes.
How to apply:
The application process is fully digital. PIs are expected to use the platform at nrf.tetfund.gov.ng to prepare and submit their Concept Notes and, if invited, their full proposals.
“All the submitted Concept Notes will be evaluated by the National Research Fund Screening and Monitoring Committee (NRFSMC),” the TETFund statement reads. It added that successful applicants would be contacted to proceed to the proposal stage.
PIs whose projects are found fundable will be invited, along with at least one team member, to present their proposal before the NRFS&MC. If approved, such projects will be recommended to the Board of Trustees for final funding approval and disbursement.