The Federal Government has announced a significant 50 percent increase in scholarship grants across all academic levels as part of a comprehensive reform aimed at expanding educational opportunities and addressing rising costs.
Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, revealed that PhD students will now receive N750,000 annually, up from N500,000; Master’s students will receive N600,000, up from N400,000; and undergraduate, HND, and NCE students will receive N450,000 annually, increased from N300,000.
The Minister emphasized that the increased funding aims to counteract escalating education expenses and promote equitable access to quality learning. He also addressed updates on the Bilateral Education Agreements (BEA), stating that current beneficiaries will continue to receive their awards, while funds initially reserved for new recipients have been redirected to introduce two new scholarship categories aligned with national priorities.
One category targets students in public polytechnics enrolled in STEM and vocational programs, supported by N1 billion. The second focuses on students studying medicine, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy, and physiotherapy in public universities, also backed by N1 billion. Both initiatives are financed through a strategic reallocation of the BEA budget to meet urgent educational needs.
Furthermore, a revised scholarship distribution framework has been established to ensure fairness and impact. Under this new plan, 50 percent of awards will go to undergraduates, 25 percent to Master’s students, and 25 percent to PhD candidates. Within each level, 70 percent of awards will prioritize STEM disciplines, with the remaining 30 percent supporting Social Sciences. An inclusive measure also reserves five percent of scholarships for students with disabilities.
Minister Alausa noted that over 15,000 students are expected to benefit from the Nigerian Scholarship Award, Education Bursary Award, and the revamped BEA scheme. Implementation will be overseen by the Federal Scholarship Board in collaboration with an Inter-Ministerial Committee led by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education.
With a combined budget of N6 billion for the 2025–2026 cycle, the reform reflects a bold national investment in youth development. The initiative is designed not only to fund education but also to cultivate Nigeria’s human capital for sustainable national transformation.
The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement in delivering this renewed scholarship scheme, aligning with Nigeria’s long-term development aspirations.