150 University Academic Projects to Receive ₦20 Million Grooming Centre Research Grant

The Grooming Centre for Research and Development (CREM) has launched applications for its 2026 University Grant Scheme, announcing that 150 outstanding undergraduate and postgraduate research projects across Nigeria will receive a combined ₦20 million in funding.

The nationwide initiative, unveiled in Lagos, is designed to support innovative academic research that addresses critical development challenges, particularly projects capable of promoting financial inclusion, entrepreneurship, technology, rural development and poverty reduction.

Speaking at the opening of the application window, Assistant Manager, Research and Development, CREM, Chimfurumnaya Chukwuekem, said the programme is open to all eligible students regardless of age, gender, religion or ethnicity, describing inclusiveness as one of the scheme’s guiding principles.

According to him, the 2026 edition will support 100 final-year undergraduate students and 50 postgraduate students, making a total of 150 beneficiaries. He added that since the grant scheme was introduced in 2019, Grooming Centre has awarded research grants and prizes to 659 students in Nigerian tertiary institutions.

The application portal opened on August 31 and will remain open until October 23, 2026. Successful applicants will be selected through a competitive evaluation process that prioritises originality, practicality and the potential social impact of their research.

Chukwuekem explained that only final-year undergraduates and postgraduate students enrolled in accredited Nigerian tertiary institutions are eligible to apply. He said proposed research must focus on areas including financial inclusion, microfinance, rural development, social enterprise, MSMEs, technological development, digital innovation in finance, youth development, women’s empowerment, or other studies aimed at lifting people out of poverty.

“The focus of the research study must be relevant to the Nigerian context, practical, innovative and capable of promoting these areas of interest within the Nigerian space,” he said.

Unlike conventional academic grants that primarily reward theoretical research, the Grooming Centre scheme places strong emphasis on projects with practical applications and measurable benefits for communities. Organizers say the objective is to encourage students to develop solutions that can influence public policy, strengthen local economies and improve livelihoods.

Education stakeholders have welcomed the initiative, noting that inadequate research funding remains one of the biggest constraints facing Nigerian universities. They argue that sustained private-sector investment in academic research is essential to building a knowledge-driven economy and empowering young innovators to tackle national development challenges.

As Nigeria seeks to strengthen innovation through higher education, the expanded ₦20 million grant scheme represents more than financial support, it is an investment in ideas with the potential to transform communities. By backing 150 emerging researchers, Grooming Centre is helping bridge the gap between academic excellence and practical solutions for the country’s future.