The Ojah Scholarship Foundation is a nonprofit offering ₦600,000 annually to bright indigent students from the Niger Delta region of Nigeria to ensure that talented but underprivileged students have access to quality education, regardless of their financial situation. The foundation’s focus is in undergraduates taking STEM (Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) degrees, in order for the STEM fields to further advance in the Niger Delta and across Nigeria in general.
The Ojah Foundation and it’s history
Learn the stories of the 4 extraordinary people who this foundation is dedicated to:
- Oja was born in 1939 in Oginibo, Delta state, Nigeria. She was an embodiment of knowledge and although during her lifetime she did not gain any formal education, she was a champion for one and a keen facilitator of access to education, who ensured that her only two surviving children were educated. Ojah Scholarship Foundation is in honor of her legacy.
- The Foundation is an offshoot of the ambitions of a boy and girl from the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. Both were raised in the DSC Ovwian-Aladja community, co-incidentally attended the same secondary school and left home for the next phase of their education and life. As fate directed, these two who had shared paths but never crossed would meet, get married and have two daughters together. They both share a deep-rooted passion for providing education and eradicating poverty. OSF is their vision in giving back to their roots.
- In the mid 60s, an American named John Ellinger arrived Nigeria as part of the American Peace Corps. This particular mission would change the course of one family. Mr. Ellinger during his posting provided funding for a university education to a brilliant young boy O.J. Foghi whose father had passed and was now the breadwinner for his mother and brother. Foghi went on to complete a bachelors degree in Economics. The gratitude for that gift of an education is forever ingrained in his heart and it is a story he continues to share with his children and grandchildren. The Ojah Scholarship Foundation is a tribute to this kind-hearted stranger.
The foundation’s mission
The Ojah foundation’s mission is to close the wide gap in STEM between Nigeria and the first-world systems. In order to achieve this, they realize that qualitative education must be accessible to both the male and female genders, equally. Thus, the foundation also have a mission to uplift the girl child. Girl-child education and equality is key if we are to see real and meaningful development as a society.
Scholarship benefits
- A cash payment of 600,000 Naira that provides full coverage of board, academic materials, tuition and all other needs for a session.
- The grant will be split into annual payments for the duration of the undergraduate degree.
- The OSF grant is designed cover tuition, housing, administration, transportation, study materials and upkeep for the duration of the undergraduate program.
- To maintain the scholarship, beneficiary must maintain a GPA of no less than 3.5 on a 5 point scale every academic year.
- Beneficiary must maintain contact with the OSF office for the duration of the program.
- A stylish laptop that gives STEM student a boost with studies or research.
- Quarterly mentorships led by volunteer industry profesionals.
- Becoming a community with the mentors to scholars, staff to founders, where you will be able to share resources and knowledge to help each other overcome difficulty and challenges
Eligibility
The requirements to be eligible for this scholarship are as follows:
- Applicant is from Niger Delta. Primarily these three:
- Delta
- Edo
- Ondo
- Applicant has extraordinary performance in academics – presenting no less than a 4.0 CGPA on a 5point scale (school results to be provided on request).
- Applicant’s area of study is STEM; Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics.
- Applicant has gained admission for the current year (2024-2025) into a Nigerian public university OR is already in Year 1 or Year 2 in a Nigerian public university
How to apply
Applications are done online and the form can be found in their website linked below. Any application received outside of this means will be considered invalid.
Note: Emails requesting special consideration will not be attended.
Applicants should follow the foundation’s socials for information and notices.
Application deadline
2024 applications are closed.
For the following year’s details, stay up to date with The Ojah Foundation scholarship website.
