The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has announced the implementation of its 2025 TETFund Scholarship for Academic Staff (TSAS) Intervention Allocation, with a renewed focus on local scholarships. This decision follows the suspension of the foreign scholarship component due to concerns over scholars absconding and the rising costs of foreign training caused by exchange rate fluctuations.
In a circular dated 24th March 2025, addressed to all Vice-Chancellors, Rectors, and Provosts of beneficiary institutions, TETFund Executive Secretary, Mr Sonny Echono reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to supporting academic staff training within Nigeria. The fund had previously urged institutions to prioritise their training needs locally, ensuring that scholars receive quality education while remaining within the country’s academic system.
The circular also provides updated guidelines on eligible institutions and approved fields of study for the local scholarship scheme. The list includes federal universities and private universities, ensuring that a broad spectrum of academic staff can benefit from the initiative. Scholarships are however open to academic staff of federal and state universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.
Background of the Decision
The shift to local scholarships stems from TETFund’s ongoing efforts to maximize the impact of its interventions while mitigating the risks associated with foreign training. The agency had noted a high rate of scholars failing to return after completing their studies abroad, alongside the escalating financial burden caused by Nigeria’s foreign exchange regime.
By directing funds towards local institutions, TETFund aims to strengthen the nation’s higher education system, enhance research output, and foster a more sustainable academic development framework.
Tenable Institutions and Approved Courses
To guide prospective applicants, TETFund has released a list of tenable institutions and their respective postgraduate programs under the 2025 TSAS scheme. The institutions across Nigeria are categorised by geopolitical zones and university type.
List of Eligible Institutions
Below is the Tenable Institutions for the 2025 TETFund Local Scholarship, categorised by geopolitical zones:
North-East
| Institution | Approved Postgraduate Programmes |
|---|---|
| University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) | Administration and Management, Agriculture, Arts, Basic Medical and Health Sciences, Education, Engineering and Technology, Law, Medicine, Pharmacy, Sciences, Social Sciences, Veterinary Medicine |
| Modibbo Adama University, Yola (MAU) | Administration and Management, Agriculture, Education, Engineering and Technology, Environmental Sciences, Sciences, Social Sciences |
| Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi (ATBU) | Administration and Management, Agriculture, Education, Engineering and Technology, Environmental Sciences, Sciences |
North-West
| Institution | Approved Postgraduate Programmes |
|---|---|
| Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (ABU) | Administration and Management, Agriculture, Arts, Basic Medical and Health Sciences, Education, Engineering and Technology, Environmental Sciences, Law, Medicine, Pharmacy, Sciences, Social Sciences, Veterinary Medicine, Business School |
| Bayero University, Kano (BUK) | Administration and Management, Agriculture, Arts, Basic Medical and Health Sciences, Education, Engineering and Technology, Law, Medicine, Sciences, , Social Sciences |
| Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS) | Allied Health Sciences, Agriculture, Arts, Basic Medical Sciences, Chemical and Life Sciences, Clinical Sciences, Education and Extension Services, Law, Management Sciences, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Veterinary Medicine |
North-Central
| Institution | Approved Postgraduate Programmes |
|---|---|
| Federal University of Technology, Minna (FUTMinna) | Agriculture, Education, Engineering and Technology, Environmental Sciences, Sciences, Social Sciences |
| University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) | Administration and Management, Agriculture, Arts, Basic Medical and Health Sciences, Education, Environmental Sciences, Law, Medicine, Sciences, Social Sciences |
| University of Jos, Jos | Administration and Management, Arts, Basic Medical and Health Sciences, Education, Environmental Sciences, Law, Medicine, Pharmacy, Sciences, Social Sciences |
South-East
| Institution | Approved Postgraduate Programmes |
|---|---|
| University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) | Administration and Management, Agriculture, Arts, Basic Medical and Health Sciences, Education, Education, Engineering and Technology, Environmental Sciences, Law, Medicine, Pharmacy, Sciences, Social Sciences, Veterinary Medicine |
| Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka (UNIZIK) | Administration and Management, Arts, Basic Medical and Health Sciences, Education, Engineering and Technology, Environmental Sciences, Law, Medicine, Pharmacy, Sciences, Social Sciences |
| Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO) | Administration and Management, Agriculture, Arts, Basic Medical and Health Sciences, Education, Engineering and Technology, Sciences, Law, Medicine, Social Sciences |
South-South
| Institution | Approved Postgraduate Programmes |
|---|---|
| University of Benin (UNIBEN) | Administration and Management, Agriculture, Arts, Basic Medical and Health Sciences, Education, Engineering and Technology, Environmental Sciences, Law, Medicine, Pharmacy, Sciences, Social Sciences |
| University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) | Administration and Management, Agriculture, Arts, Basic Medical and Health Sciences, Education, Engineering and Technology, Environmental Sciences, Medicine, Pharmacy, Sciences, Social Sciences |
| University of Calabar, Calabar (UNICAL) | Administration and Management, Agriculture, Arts, Basic Medical and Health Sciences, Education, Engineering and Technology, Law, Medicine, Sciences, Social Sciences |
South-West
| Institution | Approved Postgraduate Programmes |
|---|---|
| University of Lagos (UNILAG) | Administration and Management, Arts, Basic Medical Sciences, Business School, Education, Engineering and Technology, Environmental Sciences, Law, Medicine, Sciences, Social Sciences |
| University of Ibadan (UI) | Agriculture, Arts, Basic Medical and Health Sciences, Education, Engineering and Technology, Law, Medicine, Pharmacy, Sciences, Social Sciences, Veterinary Medicine |
| Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife (OAU) | Administration and Management,Basic Medical and Health Sciences, Education, Engineering and Technology, Environmental Sciences, Law, Medicine, Sciences, Social Sciences |
| Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) | Agricultural and Resource Economics, Computer Science, Engineering, Environmental Sciences, Management Technology, Physical Sciences |
Specialised Universities of Agriculture
| Institution | Approved Postgraduate Programmes |
|---|---|
| Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) | Agriculture, Engineering and Technology, Sciences, Veterinary Medicine |
| Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi | Agriculture, Engineering, Sciences, Veterinary Medicine |
Private Universities (Eligible for TETFund Local Scholarship)
| Institution | Approved Postgraduate Programmes |
|---|---|
| Nile University of Nigeria, Abuja | Engineering, Law, Sciences, Environmental Sciences, Social and Management Sciences, Public Health |
| Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD) | Engineering, Law, Medicine, Health Sciences, Sciences, Social and Management Sciences |
| American University of Nigeria, Yola | Arts, Business and Entrepreneurship, Information Technology and Computing, Sciences |
| Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State | Business Administration and Management, Sciences, Environmental Sciences, Transport Management, Social Sciences |
| Madonna University, Okija, Anambra State | Arts, Basic Medical Sciences, Education, Engineering, Health Sciences, Law, Pharmacy, Management and Social Sciences, Sciences |
| Baze University, Abuja | Accountancy, Animal and Environmental Sciences, Architecture, Business Administration, Clinical Psychology, Economics, Engineering, Law, Management |
| Landmark University, Omu-Aran, Kwara State | Agricultural Sciences, Business and Social Sciences, Engineering, Pure and Applied Sciences |
| Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State | Business Management, Engineering, Sciences, Social Sciences |
Academic staff in beneficiary institutions are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity to further their studies and contribute to the advancement of knowledge in their respective fields.
For more information, applicants are advised to consult their institution’s TETFund Desk Office or visit www.tetfund.gov.ng.
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