NWU Holds Workshop on Developing Competitive TETFund NRF Concept Notes

Northwest University, Kano (NWU), through its Directorate of Research, Innovation and Development, has organised a one-day workshop to equip researchers with the skills required to develop competitive concept notes for the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) National Research Fund (NRF).

The workshop, themed "Developing Competitive and Award-Winning TETFund NRF Concept Notes," was held on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, at the Senate Chamber, Main Campus, with participation also available via Zoom.

The programme brought together researchers and members of the academic community for an intensive engagement focused on improving research proposal development, understanding funding expectations and strengthening prospects for securing research grants.

In his welcome address, the Director of Research, Innovation and Development, Professor James Abrak Timbuak, highlighted the importance of building capacity for high-quality proposals that respond to national development priorities and meet competitive funding requirements.

In a special address, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Amina Salihi Bayero, expressed commitment to strengthening research, innovation and academic excellence at the University.

She disclosed that she cancelled an engagement in Abuja to attend the workshop, describing it as too important to be treated as an ordinary institutional activity. She noted that the quality of a university is increasingly measured not only by teaching and learning outcomes but also by its capacity to generate knowledge, solve societal problems and contribute to national development.

Professor Bayero encouraged participants to engage actively and apply the knowledge gained in preparing their research proposals, while commending the Directorate for its efforts in strengthening the University's research culture.

The workshop featured three sessions facilitated by Professor Mohammed Aliyu Paiko, Vice-Chancellor of Abdulkadir Kure University and President of the Academic and Grant Writing Enclave Society (AGES).

The first session, titled "Assessment of Project Readiness Before Submitting Acceptable TETFund NRF Concept Notes," focused on project preparedness, clarity of research objectives, alignment with funding priorities and feasibility.

The second session, "Writing NRF Concept Notes for Award-Winning Research Grants," provided practical guidance on compelling concept notes, including problem identification, research significance, methodological clarity, expected outcomes and strategic presentation in line with reviewers' expectations.

The final session featured a breakout exercise for participants from Humanities and Social Sciences (HSS) and Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) categories, where groups developed sections of concept notes and presented them for review and feedback.

The workshop concluded with closing remarks by the Deputy Director of Research, Innovation and Development, Dr. Muhammad Danlami Rabiu.