NOUN master’s and PhD students have an opportunity to participate in a free research-capacity programme supported by the Federal Ministry of Education and Tertiary Education Trust Fund.
The programme, titled Diaspora-Enabled Research, Innovation and Academic Capacity Development: Bridging Nigerian Universities, is currently available through the federal Diaspora BRIDGE platform.
It is scheduled to end on 29 August 2026, making early enrolment important for eligible students who want to access the remaining programme content.
WHO CAN PARTICIPATE?
The official programme page identifies the intended participants as:
• Postgraduate students studying for an MSc or PhD.
• Academic staff in Nigerian universities and polytechnics.
• Researchers in public and private research institutes.
• University research administrators and innovation officers.
• STEMM educators and curriculum developers.
Eligible NOUN MSc and PhD students fall within the postgraduate-student category.
Undergraduate and postgraduate diploma students are not specifically listed among the target participants. They should not assume eligibility unless the programme administrators confirm it.
IS THE PROGRAMME FREE?
Yes. The official portal currently lists the programme fee as free.
It also indicates that certificates of participation and completion are available. Students should understand that enrolling alone may not automatically qualify them for a certificate. They may need to satisfy attendance, participation or completion requirements set by the organisers.
The portal advertises capacity for up to 20,000 participants.
WHAT PARTICIPANTS WILL LEARN
The programme is intended to strengthen research quality, academic writing and international collaboration.
Its learning objectives include helping participants:
• Improve the quality and visibility of research publications.
• Apply effective academic-writing techniques.
• Prepare manuscripts for high-impact journals.
• Develop competitive and fundable research proposals.
• Understand grant-review expectations.
• Identify appropriate funding opportunities.
• Build sustainable research collaborations.
These skills may be particularly useful to NOUN postgraduate students preparing dissertations, theses, journal articles, conference papers or research proposals.
PROGRAMME MODULES
The official course page lists 11 sections covering the following areas:
RESEARCH EXCELLENCE AND ACADEMIC WRITING
Participants are introduced to approaches for improving research quality, academic communication and publication readiness.
GRANT WRITING AND RESEARCH FUNDING
This section focuses on developing fundable proposals and understanding what grant reviewers expect.
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES
The programme examines how modern technologies can support research and innovation.
Students should still follow NOUN’s academic-integrity requirements and properly disclose or reference AI assistance where required.
INNOVATION AND COMMERCIALISATION
Participants learn how research ideas can be developed into solutions with societal, industrial or policy value.
TEACHING EXCELLENCE AND CURRICULUM MODERNISATION
This module examines contemporary teaching approaches and curriculum development.
DATA SCIENCE AND DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION
Participants are introduced to digital research capabilities and the increasing role of data in academic and institutional development.
SCIENTIFIC WRITING AND RESEARCH VISIBILITY
This section covers clearer research communication and strategies for improving the visibility of scholarly work.
COLLABORATION AND GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT
Participants learn about developing academic networks, joint research and international partnerships.
RESEARCH MANAGEMENT AND INSTITUTIONAL GROWTH
This module considers leadership and the management of research activities within institutions.
STEMM CAPACITY AND FUTURE SKILLS
The programme addresses developments in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medical or health-related disciplines.
WHY THIS OPPORTUNITY MATTERS TO NOUN STUDENTS
Distance-learning students often conduct research while managing employment, family responsibilities and limited access to conventional campus-based workshops.
A free online programme provides an opportunity to strengthen research skills without travelling to another institution.
It may help NOUN postgraduate students:
• Improve dissertation or thesis proposals.
• Recognise weak research questions and methodologies.
• Understand academic publishing more clearly.
• Prepare stronger grant applications.
• Develop relationships with researchers outside NOUN.
• Learn about international research-funding organisations.
• Strengthen their academic and professional profiles.
Participation does not guarantee publication, research funding, admission or employment. The programme should be treated as capacity development.
IMPORTANT DATES
The official schedule runs from 9 July to 29 August 2026.
Sessions are listed for Mondays through Fridays at 10:00. Students enrolling late should check the platform to determine which live sessions, recordings and modules remain accessible.
NOUN Update cannot guarantee that late participants will be able to complete every certificate requirement before the programme closes.
HOW TO ENROL
1. Visit the official Diaspora BRIDGE programme page.
2. Select Enroll Now.
3. Create an account or sign in.
4. Complete any required profile information.
5. Enrol in the DERIACD programme.
6. Review the remaining schedule and available modules.
7. Complete the required activities before the closing date.
Official programme and enrolment page:
https://diaspora-bridge.education.gov.ng/seminars-fe/show/ed57a36c-2ee4-4983-b10d-baac8d1e4d25
IS THIS A SCHOLARSHIP?
No. This is a free training and research-capacity programme.
The official page does not promise tuition funding, cash payments, research grants or living allowances to participants.
Students should not pay an agent to secure enrolment or expect to receive money for participating.
SAFETY NOTICE
The legitimate portal operates on the Federal Ministry of Education’s education.gov.ng domain and identifies the Federal Ministry and TETFund as supporting organisations.
Before submitting personal information:
• Confirm that the address begins with https://diaspora-bridge.education.gov.ng/
• Do not pay anyone for enrolment.
• Do not share portal passwords or verification codes.
• Do not trust anyone promising a certificate without completing the requirements.
• Contact the programme secretariat through the details on the official portal if clarification is needed.
NOUN Update will continue monitoring legitimate learning, scholarship and research opportunities that can benefit open and distance learners.
