The Federal Government has announced a 50 per cent increase in annual scholarship grants across all academic levels as part of a sweeping reform to its national scholarship programme.
Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, who disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, said the move is aimed at addressing the rising cost of education and promoting equitable access to quality learning for Nigerian students.
Naijaonpoint understands that under the new structure, PhD students will now receive ₦750,000 annually, up from the previous ₦500,000.
Master’s degree students are to get ₦600,000, increased from ₦400,000, while undergraduate, Higher National Diploma (HND) and Nigerian Certificate in Education (NCE) students will now receive ₦450,000 annually, a rise from the previous ₦300,000.
“The increase is part of a broader reform designed to ensure that no capable Nigerian student is left behind due to financial constraints,” Alausa said.
The Minister also revealed that the Federal Government has introduced two new scholarship categories under the restructured programme, supported by a strategic reallocation of funds from the Bilateral Education Agreements (BEA).
According to Alausa, ₦1 billion has been earmarked for students enrolled in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and vocational programmes in public polytechnics.
An additional ₦1 billion has also been set aside for students studying medicine, nursing, dentistry, pharmacy, and physiotherapy in public universities.
“These new categories were created to address critical national education priorities and foster Nigeria’s scientific and healthcare capacity,” the minister stated.
Revised Allocation Framework for Equity
As part of efforts to improve fairness and impact, the government has adopted a revised allocation formula for the scholarship awards.
Under the new structure, 50 per cent of all scholarships will go to undergraduate students, while 25 per cent will be allocated to Master’s students and the remaining 25 per cent to PhD candidates.
“Within each academic level, 70 per cent of the scholarships will be dedicated to STEM disciplines, and 30 per cent will go to students in the Social Sciences,” Alausa explained.
In a move to promote inclusivity, he added that five per cent of the entire scholarship pool would be reserved for students living with disabilities.
Over 15,000 Students to Benefit
The Education Minister said the reformed scholarship programme, covering the Nigerian Scholarship Award, the Education Bursary Award, and the restructured BEA scheme, is expected to benefit over 15,000 students in the 2025–2026 academic cycle.
He noted that the entire programme will be executed with a combined budget of ₦6 billion and will be jointly coordinated by the Federal Scholarship Board and an Inter-Ministerial Committee chaired by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education.
Alausa described the reform as a strategic investment in Nigeria’s future, saying it goes beyond educational assistance.
“It is a deliberate strategy to cultivate the human capital required for Nigeria’s long-term transformation,” he said.
The Ministry of Education, he assured, remains committed to transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement in implementing the renewed scholarship agenda in alignment with the country’s developmental goals.
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