Nnamdi Azikiwe University (NAU), Awka, has emerged as the fourth-best-performing university in Nigeria in the 2025 National Research Fund (NRF) TETFund Grant cycle after producing seven successful grant awardees among the 174 beneficiaries nationwide.
The feat further reinforces the university’s growing reputation as a leading centre for cutting-edge research and innovation in Nigeria.
The seven researchers paid a courtesy visit to the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ugochukwu Bond Stanley Anyaehie, in his office on Thursday, 2nd July, 2026, following the successful defence of their research proposals in Abuja, where they secured the highly competitive grants.
Leading the delegation, the Director of Research and Innovation, Prof. Azubike Ekpunobi, formally presented the awardees to the Vice-Chancellor, who subsequently presented their grant award certificates.
Speaking during the ceremony, Prof. Ekpunobi announced that Nnamdi Azikiwe University ranked fourth nationally in the 2025 NRF TETFund Grant cycle, with individual grant awards ranging from ₦25 million to ₦39 million.
The beneficiaries are Prof. Ikwuka Obiageli, Prof. Kingsley Nwosu, Prof. Iloameke Maryjane, Prof. Chilota Efobi, Prof. Dimkpa Uchechukwu, Dr. Obidiebube Adaobi, and Dr. Nkem Okoye.
He commended the researchers for their exceptional performance, describing the achievement as a clear reflection of the university’s expanding research capacity and commitment to academic excellence. He further advocated improved research infrastructure, including dedicated office spaces and enhanced technical support, noting that such investments would boost research productivity and increase the university’s competitiveness in attracting future grants.
In his remarks, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ugochukwu Bond Stanley Anyaehie, congratulated the awardees for bringing honour to the institution, describing their success as a landmark achievement for Nnamdi Azikiwe University.
He expressed delight that under his administration, the university has recorded its highest number of NRF TETFund Grant awardees, attributing the feat to the institution’s unwavering commitment to promoting impactful research.
Prof. Anyaehie charged the beneficiaries to execute their research projects diligently while complying with all timelines and conditions stipulated by the funding agency. He also urged them to uphold the university’s regulations throughout the implementation of their projects.
Responding to the request for additional research office space, the Vice-Chancellor explained that several available spaces had already been committed to other institutional needs but assured the researchers of the university’s continued support in providing an enabling environment for quality research and innovation.
The ceremony climaxed with the formal presentation of the grant award certificates to the seven successful researchers.
Among those in attendance were the Deputy Director of Research and Innovation, Dr. Chika Anthony Okonkwo, and other officials of the Directorate of Research and Innovation.
The event highlighted Nnamdi Azikiwe University’s sustained commitment to research excellence and its steady rise as one of Nigeria’s foremost institutions in attracting competitive national research funding
