The Federal Ministry of Education has increased scholarship awards by 50 percent under the revamped National Scholarship Programme, in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Under the revised package, PhD candidates will now receive N750,000 annually, up from N500,000. Master’s students will get N600,000, compared to the previous N400,000, while undergraduate, HND, and NCE students will see their grants rise to N450,000 per year, up from N300,000.
The programme also sets aside fresh funding for specialised areas of study. A total of N1 billion has been allocated to STEMM and vocational students in polytechnics, while another N1 billion is earmarked for medical and allied health students in public universities.
Scholarship funds will be shared with 50 percent for undergraduates, 25 percent for Master’s students, and 25 percent for PhD scholars. In addition, 70 percent of the entire allocation will target STEMM disciplines, with the remaining 30 percent directed to social sciences.
To ensure inclusivity, five percent of all awards are reserved for students living with disabilities. More than 15,000 students are projected to benefit in the 2025–2026 academic session, with N6 billion budgeted for disbursement through the Federal Scholarship Board and an Inter-Ministerial Committee.
The reforms are designed to enhance merit-based selection, broaden access to education funding, and strengthen Nigeria’s human capital development