The Federal Government has announced a 50% increase in scholarship grants for Nigerian students across all tertiary levels, marking the most significant reform to the national scholarship programme in over a decade.
The Minister of State for Education, Dr. Yusuf Tanko Sununu, made the announcement in a statement posted Wednesday via his official X (formerly Twitter) account. He said the revised scholarship scheme aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which places education at the centre of efforts to transform Nigeria into a $1 trillion economy.
“This increase aims to ease the financial burden on students and families while improving access to quality education,” the Minister said.
Under the new structure, PhD students will now receive ₦750,000 annually, up from ₦500,000. Master’s students will receive ₦600,000, up from ₦400,000. Undergraduate, HND, and NCE students will now receive ₦450,000, compared to ₦300,000 previously.
The reform also restructures the Bilateral Education Agreement (BEA) scholarship scheme. While current international recipients will continue to receive funding, allocations for new awards abroad have been redirected toward two newly created domestic scholarship categories. The first provides ₦1 billion for students in public polytechnics pursuing STEM and vocational programmes. The second allocates ₦1 billion for medical and allied health students in public universities, including those studying Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing, Pharmacy, and Physiotherapy.
These changes, the Minister explained, reflect a focus on merit, equity, and national development needs, especially in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine (STEMM).
The revised scholarship distribution will see 50% of awards go to undergraduate students, 25% to Master’s students, and 25% to PhD candidates. Within each academic tier, 70% of scholarships will be directed toward students in STEMM disciplines, while 30% will support students in the social sciences. A further 5% of all awards will be reserved for students with disabilities.
Over 15,000 students are expected to benefit from the initiative, which includes the Nigerian Scholarship Award, the Education Bursary Award, and the restructured BEA scheme.
Implementation will be overseen by the Federal Scholarship Board, working in conjunction with an Inter-Ministerial Committee chaired by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary. The committee includes representatives from the National Assembly, the Federal Character Commission, the Ministry of Women Affairs, and other key stakeholders to ensure transparency and accountability.
“With a ₦6 billion budget for the 2025–2026 cycle, this is not just a policy—it’s a bold investment in our youth and our future,” the Minister stated. “We call on all stakeholders—students, parents, institutions, and the broader public—to support this transformative initiative.”
