In a major move to ease the financial burden on students and boost access to quality education, the Federal Government has announced a sweeping reform of Nigeria’s national scholarship programme—its most ambitious overhaul in more than a decade.
The Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa, CON, revealed that the renewed scholarship scheme includes a 50% increase in grants across all academic levels. The reform is part of the implementation of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritizes education as a driver of national transformation and economic growth.
“This reform is more than a policy—it is a bold national investment in our youth, our future, and our collective prosperity. We are not just funding education—we are building the human capital foundation for Nigeria’s long-term success.” Dr. Alausa said.
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PhD students will now receive ₦750,000 annually, up from ₦500,000;
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Master’s students will receive ₦600,000, increased from ₦400,000;
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Undergraduate, HND, and NCE students will receive ₦450,000, up from ₦300,000.
The expanded funding applies to key scholarship categories, including the Nigerian Scholarship Award. More than 15,000 students are expected to benefit during the 2025–2026 academic cycle.
In a strategic shift, the Federal Ministry of Education has also restructured the Bilateral Education Agreement (BEA) scholarship scheme. While continuing support for current international beneficiaries, funds previously allocated for new foreign awards have been redirected into two new categories under the national scholarship programme:
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₦1 billion will support STEM and vocational students in public polytechnics;
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₦1 billion will support students in Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing, Pharmacy, and Physiotherapy in public universities.
The reforms also introduce a new allocation framework:
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50% of scholarships will go to undergraduates,
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25% to Master’s students, and
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25% to PhD candidates.
Of these, 70% will be reserved for students in STEMM fields, while 30% will support Social Sciences. Additionally, 5% of all scholarships will be reserved for students with disabilities.
A total of ₦6 billion has been earmarked for the programme’s 2025–2026 cycle. Oversight will be handled by the Federal Scholarship Board in collaboration with an Inter-Ministerial Committee chaired by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary. The committee includes representatives from the National Assembly, Federal Character Commission, Ministry of Women Affairs, and other stakeholders to ensure transparency and accountability.
Dr. Alausa urged students, families, and institutions to support the initiative, emphasizing that the scholarship reform is more than financial support—it is a national investment in human capital and the pathway to Nigeria’s long-term success.
