The Federal Government has opened applications for the Student Venture Capital Grant (SVCG), a new national initiative supporting student-led innovation with equity-free grants of up to ₦50 million.
The announcement was made Monday by the Federal Ministry of Education in a statement signed by Boriowo Folasade, Director of Press and Public Relations.
At the launch, Minister of Education Tunji Alausa described the initiative as central to the government’s innovation agenda. “The President has challenged us to look for the next Moonshot within our tertiary institutions,” Alausa said. “We are scouting for future Nigerian unicorns whose roots will be planted right here in our universities and colleges. This is an equity-free seed investment in Nigeria’s future.”
The grant targets students building innovations in STEMM fields—Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medical Sciences—and is designed to fund ventures that tackle real-world challenges with clear potential for scale and commercialisation.
Successful applicants will gain access to a full support ecosystem, including incubation, mentorship, and essential tools. The ministry also announced a partnership with Google, which will help strengthen the programme’s evaluation process.
“Google’s Gemini AI will power automated evaluations on the portal. Every applicant will receive a free one-year Gemini Pro licence and premium learning resources,” the ministry stated. “Our goal is to ensure students begin their entrepreneurial journey with the best tools globally, building a powerful innovation funnel from idea to market domination.”
The application portal is now open at svcg.education.gov.ng, and students in accredited tertiary institutions are encouraged to apply. Applicants are advised to submit proposals demonstrating scalability, market relevance, and potential to address critical national or global challenges.
