ABUJA — The Federal Government has approved a 50 per cent increase in scholarship grants for students across all levels of tertiary education, marking the most extensive overhaul of Nigeria’s national scholarship programme in over a decade.
The new policy was announced by the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa, during a high-level session with the Federal Scholarship Board in Abuja. He said the revised scholarship structure aligns with the administration’s broader goal of repositioning education as a driver of economic growth and inclusive national development.
Under the new arrangement, PhD students will now receive ₦750,000 annually, up from ₦500,000. Master’s students are to receive ₦600,000, up from ₦400,000, while undergraduates, NCE, and HND students will each get ₦450,000 annually, up from ₦300,000.
“These new figures are not just about financial support. They represent a deliberate step towards ensuring that our brightest minds—regardless of background—can access the training and knowledge required to build Nigeria’s future,” the minister said.
The review, part of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, also introduces two new funding categories aimed at critical sectors. The first targets students enrolled in STEM and vocational programmes in public polytechnics, with ₦1 billion allocated for this group. The second category is dedicated to students studying Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing, Pharmacy, and Physiotherapy in public universities, also backed by a ₦1 billion allocation.
The new streams are being financed through a reallocation of the Bilateral Education Agreement (BEA) scholarship budget. While current BEA beneficiaries will continue to receive their entitlements, the funds previously set aside for new awardees have been redirected to meet current national education needs.
A revised distribution framework has also been introduced to guide the award process. Fifty per cent of all scholarships will be allocated to undergraduate students, with Master’s and PhD students receiving 25 per cent each. Within each category, 70 per cent of scholarships will go to STEMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medical Sciences), while 30 per cent will be reserved for Social Sciences. In a significant inclusion policy, 5 per cent of all awards are earmarked for students with disabilities.
The Ministry estimates that over 15,000 students will benefit from the restructured scheme, which includes the Nigerian Scholarship Award, Education Bursary Award, and the adjusted BEA scholarship.
Implementation will be overseen by the Federal Scholarship Board in partnership 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 relevant agencies to ensure fairness and transparency.
With a total budget of ₦6 billion allocated for the 2025–2026 cycle, Dr. Alausa described the initiative as a major investment in human capital development.
“This is not just about disbursing funds—it’s a strategy to produce the talent Nigeria needs to thrive in the global economy,” he said.
The Education Ministry reaffirmed its pledge to transparency, equity, and continuous improvement in delivering its renewed scholarship vision.
