From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
In a related development, TETFund has also invested N116 million in four strategic research projects at the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), funding studies aimed at tackling cancer, diabetic wound complications, language barriers in education and Nigeria’s transition to a carbon-neutral economy.
The grants, awarded under the 2025 TETFund National Research Fund (NRF) Intervention, underscore the Fund’s commitment to supporting solution-driven research capable of addressing critical national and global challenges.
The Letters of Award, signed by the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Sonny Echono, were presented by the Vice-Chancellor of NOUN, Professor Olufemi Peters, during a ceremony at the university’s headquarters in Abuja.
The Vice-Chancellor congratulated the successful research teams, describing the grants as a strong vote of confidence in the quality of research being undertaken at the university.
He urged the beneficiaries to justify the confidence reposed in them by delivering impactful and innovative outcomes capable of improving lives and contributing to national development.
He insisted that research remains a core mandate of every university and a critical tool for solving societal problems, and charged the researchers to execute their projects with diligence, transparency and strict adherence to TETFund’s guidelines, expressing confidence that the successful implementation of the projects would further strengthen NOUN’s reputation as a centre of academic excellence, innovation and impactful research.
Leading the list of beneficiaries is a research team headed by Professor Adamu Shehu Usman, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), which received N25 million to develop phytopharmaceutical prototypes from Nigerian medicinal plants for cancer therapy.
The study seeks to harness the therapeutic potential of indigenous medicinal plants in developing affordable cancer treatments.
Another team, led by Professor Tijjani Habibu, secured N21,895,466 to undertake research on advanced graphene-based nanoemulsions of rice bran oil for diabetic wound healing. The project is expected to promote tissue regeneration, enhance blood vessel formation and improve antimicrobial efficacy, offering innovative treatment options for people living with diabetes.
Professor Okoh Johnson Ifeanyi received N35 million for a project assessing the readiness of Nigeria’s financial system to support carbon neutrality and environmentally sustainable economic growth. The findings are expected to guide policymakers and financial institutions in promoting green financing and sustainable development.
The fourth grant of N35 million was awarded to a team led by Professor Ogbonnadike Georgiana Onkolika for the development of a multilingual support system designed to bridge language barriers in Nigeria’s Open and Distance Learning (ODL) system through English, Hausa, Yoruba and Igbo.
According to the award letters, each project will run for 24 months from the date the first tranche of the grant is released, while the researchers will submit periodic progress reports to TETFund throughout the implementation period.
Under the funding arrangement, 95 per cent of each approved grant will be released directly into dedicated research accounts operated by the respective principal investigators in accordance with TETFund guidelines.
(The Sun)