Nigeria's Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has awarded N35 million to a research team at the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) to study how the country's financial system can support a transition to carbon neutrality. The project, led by Professor Okoh Johnson Ifeanyi, will assess the readiness of banks and other financial institutions to fund green projects and sustainable development. The grant is part of a larger N116 million investment in four research projects at NOUN under the 2025 TETFund National Research Fund. Other funded studies include developing affordable cancer treatments from Nigerian medicinal plants and creating graphene-based nanoemulsions for diabetic wound healing. Each project runs for 24 months with 95 percent of funds released directly to the research teams. For carbon market watchers, the finance readiness study could provide practical data on where Nigeria's green finance gaps are and what policy changes might unlock more capital for clean energy and low-carbon projects. The findings are expected to guide policymakers and financial institutions on green financing mechanisms.
