From scholarships for women to memorial scholarships, there are many scholarships out there. While there are many international student scholarships, Nigerians may find it difficult due to their specific education system. For example, it is not everywhere in the world that the WAEC is known and most places have four years of senior secondary education instead of three. Therefore it may feel as if there aren’t many options available for Nigerian students. This article is a guide for Nigerian undergraduates in order to find suitable scholarships.
Federal scholarship board
The Federal Scholarship Board (FSB) is a Department of the Federal Ministry of Education headed by a Director, as the Secretary of the Board.
The board operates under four divisions:
- Bilateral Education Agreement (BEA)
- Nigerian Awards
- Commonwealth Scholarship & Fellowship Plan
- General Duties
Eligibility:
- Must be a Nigeria citizen.
Each scholarship may have other specific criteria
Degree type:
- undergraduate and postgraduate
Field of study:
- As specified by individual scholarship
Application process and deadline all will be part of individual scholarship information
As of current, there are no available scholarships but you can check back in the following years for any new updates.
Shell Nigeria students scholarship scheme
Education, is a long-term investment with an equally long gestation period, but it is one of the best legacies to bequeath to individuals, groups and society. That has been the belief of Shell Nigeria since 1952. In 2018, approximately $5.9 million (N1.78 billion) was invested in scholarships by The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited operated Joint Venture (SPDC JV) and Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCo).
Every year, more than 4,000 Nigerian undergraduates write aptitude tests to join the ever-growing list of students which Shell Nigeria supports in Nigerian Universities. The applicants are shortlisted on the basis of the national SSCE and JAMB examination results. This is followed by an aptitude test at the Port Harcourt, Warri, Enugu, Lagos and Abuja centres. There are two categories of the Scholarship Scheme: The National Merit Award (NM), open to Nigerian undergraduates and Areas of Operation Merit Award (AOM), for students from communities in which Shell Nigeria operates. Only first year students are eligible for the awards in both categories.
On the website, you will find different types of scholarships being updated throughout so be checking yearly to find one you can apply for.
Lagos state scholarship board
This website will keep you up to date with scholarships specifically for Nigerians residing in Lagos state.
It was established following the Lagos State Executive Council resolution LSEC (68) of October, 1968. Lagos State Scholarship Board started from a rented apartment in No 75 Brickfield Road, Ebute-Metta. It later moved from that rented house to a government building in Maryland in 1992. Few years later, the Board was on the move due to the State Primary Board which took over the office accommodation.
FCT Scholarship Board Abuja
The FCT education secretariat board started as Primary Schools Management Board (PSMB) in 1989 and was transformed to The FCT Universal Basic Education Board in 2005 following the passage of the Compulsory Free Universal Basic Education Act, 2004 and Other Related Matters. Its mandate is to provide free and compulsory Basic Education through management of Early Child Care Centres, Primary Schools, Nomadic Schools and Junior Secondary Schools. The Basic Education Board manages three quarters of all FCT public schools.
There is no specific deadline set. Apply as soon as the portal is open.
MTN foundation scholarship
As a Nigerian you are probably very familiar with MTN as a the company that manages your data and communications through phone number, but did you know they offer a scholarship too?
MTN Foundation was established in 2004 to manage CSR initiatives for MTN Nigeria Communications PLC; one of the first corporates in Nigeria to launch such an initiative. It was commissioned in May 2005 with MTN Nigeria Communication.
Course of study
MTN STS is open to 300 level students studying Science & Technology related courses, in Nigerian Public Tertiary Institutions (Universities, Polytechnics, and Colleges of Education).
While the SBS is open to 200 & 300 level students studying any course in Nigerian Public Tertiary Institutions (Universities, Polytechnics, and Colleges of Education).
Required grade level
STEM students in public universities, and colleges of education must have a minimum Cumulative Grade Point Average(CGPA) score of 3.0/4 or 3.5/5 (second class upper credit) and blind students in the universities or colleges of education must have a CGPA of 2.5.
STEM students in public polytechnics must have a minimum CGPA of 3.0 (upper credit) from the ordinary national diploma(OND) Program and must have secured admission into the higher national diploma(HND) Program. While blind students in public polytechnics must have a CGPA of 2.0 from the ordinary national diploma(OND) Program and must have secured admission into the higher national diploma (HND) Program.
Direct entry level STEM students must have a minimum CGPA of 3.0 (upper credit) from the ordinary national diploma(OND) program and must have secured admission into 300 level in a public university.
MTN Scholarships, a part of their Youth Development Cause, provides an annual platform for recognizing and rewarding dedicated, high performing students across Nigerian public tertiary institutions. They have curated three scholarship categories:
1. MTN science and technology scholarship(MTN STS)
The 300 successful students are awarded scholarships worth N200,000.00 annually till graduation, provided they maintain the required grades.
2. MTN Scholarship for Blind Students (MTN SBS)
Launched in 2012 and targeted at eligible 200 and 300 level blind students studying any course in Nigerian Public Tertiary Institutions (Universities, Polytechnics, and Colleges of Education).
3. Top 10 UTME scholarship
The successful candidates are awarded scholarships worth N200,000.00 from their 100 level through to graduation if they maintain the required grades.
As of 2023 submissions are closed, but will reopen next year.
As you can see, all of these scholarships are annual. So if you miss the deadlines by the time you come across this, you have the following year to give it another shot. The scholarships are diverse in the way that you can apply for a scholarship to a Nigerian university or even outside of it. As long as you are a citizen of Nigeria and are doing bachelor’s degree, the other individual requirements shouldn’t be too challenging to meet. You are able to apply for them all to increase your chances of receiving a scholarship to help fund your education.
