There are scholarships that offer significant financial support which can greatly reduce the burden of education costs, making it possible for Nigerian students to achieve their academic goals both at home and abroad.

As a student, there are different bills to be sorted out ranging from tuition fees, accommodation, feeding, transportation, research and many others. Aside from the financial benefits of landing a lucrative scholarship, there is also the prestige that comes with being identified as a scholar of a particular scholarship funding body.

There are other benefits that include Graduate Development Schemes, Entrepreneurial sponsorship and many others.

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List of Lucrative Nigerian Scholarships 2023/24

There are several scholarship sponsors in Nigeria which can be utilized for educational advancement.

Here are some lucrative scholarships available for Nigerian students categorized by Federal Government Scholarships, State Government Bursaries, Telecommunication Companies Scholarships, and Oil Companies Scholarships

1. Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) Scholarships

The Petroleum Technology Development Fund, the Federal Government of Nigeria agency has the mandate of developing indigenous human capacity and petroleum technology to meet the needs of the oil and gas industry. The scholarship sponsors students at home and overseas educational institutions at the masters and doctoral level.

The overseas scheme was developed to offer candidates the opportunity to benefit from a diversified pool of knowledge and the facilities offered by world-class institutions across the globe.

All candidates are expected to apply through PTDF to specific programmes at the partner institutions. The award includes the provision of flight tickets, payment of health insurance, payment of tuition and bench fees (where applicable), and the provision of allowances to meet the costs of accommodation and living expenses.

2. MTN Scholarship

MTN Scholarships, under the Youth Development Cause, are prestigious annual awards aimed at recognizing and rewarding high-performing students in Nigerian public tertiary institutions.

• Objective: To support and encourage academic excellence in Science and Technology.
• Eligibility:
  • Open to eligible 300 level students.
  • Students must be studying Science & Technology-related courses.
  • Applicable to Nigerian public tertiary institutions (Universities, Polytechnics, and Colleges of Education).

3. Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Scholarship

Nigeria LNG awards scholarships to Nigerian students because education and human capital development has been identified as intrinsic and fundamental to national development. NLNG has three main levels of scholarship schemes: Post Primary, Under Graduate and post Graduate to encourage academic excellence as well as support human capital development in Nigeria.

The NLNG Scholarship takes into consideration the reality of the economic situation of Nigeria and can support a student through its educational pursuit if the required grade is maintained.

4. Agbami Scholarship

This is a scholarship program that seeks to support Engineering and Medical students in Nigeria. It is supported by Star Deep and its Agbami partners. It is an important aspect of the Agbami partners’ Social Investment in Nigeria’s strategic development of health and education, particularly in the Niger Delta. The Agbami Scholarship for undergraduate students is open to Nigerian undergraduate students in the 100 and 200L.

With almost 10,000 recipients, this scholarship is perhaps the happiest undergraduate prize in Nigeria. The Agbami scholarship application program is worth  about N100,000 for Engineering students and also N200,000 for Medical students. It is open to first-year and second-year students at Tertiary institutions.

5. Jim Ovia Foundation Scholarship

The Jim Ovia Scholars Program was established in the year 1998 by Mr. Jim Ovia, and it is a fully funded scholarship which is aimed at providing financial assistance to exceptional Nigerian youths. Formerly known as the MUSTE scholarship, it supports both undergraduate and graduate students throughout the duration of their programs by covering tuition fees and providing maintenance allowances.

Here are some key points about the Jim Ovia Scholars Program:

• • Founder: The program is fully funded by Mr. Jim Ovia, a prominent Nigerian entrepreneur and philanthropist.
  • Coverage: The scholarship supports eligible awardees for the entirety of their undergraduate or graduate studies, encompassing both tuition fees and maintenance allowances.

6. Federal Government (BEA) Scholarship

The Federal Scholarship Board (FSB), under the Federal Ministry of Education of Nigeria, offers scholarships to Nigerian students through two main schemes: the Bilateral Educational Agreement (BEA) Scholarship Awards for studying abroad and the Federal Government scholarship awards for studying within Nigeria. These scholarships are designed to support undergraduate, Masters, and PhD students.

The BEA scholarships enable Nigerian students to pursue their studies overseas in participating countries. The responsibilities for these scholarships are shared as follows:

• Participating Countries: They cover tuition and accommodation costs for the students.
• Nigerian Government: They provide additional support which includes:
  • A supplement for living expenses.
  • Provision for warm clothing.
  • Health insurance.
  • Research grants where applicable.
  • A take-off grant to help students settle into their new environments.

7. NNPC/Chevron Joint Venture Scholarship

The scholarship is officially sponsored by Chevron and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation aimed at helping many Nigerian undergraduate students across various Nigerian universities to achieve their educational dreams.

The sum of this scholarship is up to N100,000 which is offered to student scholars untill their final year of study in the institution.

8. NDDC Postgraduate Scholarship

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Postgraduate Scholarship is a prestigious and highly esteemed program aimed at empowering Niger Deltans with the requisite training and skills to participate effectively in both local and global professional fields. Although this scholarship has been on hold in recent years, it continues to be recognized as one of the most lucrative scholarships for Nigerian students aspiring to study abroad when it is available.

Requirements for Students Scholarships

The requirements for applying for the aforementioned scholarships depends on the study level one is applying for. Undergraduate and Postgraduate requirements are different as will be outlined below:

Undergraduate Requirements:

• Jamb Result
• O’level Result
• Passport Photographs
• Birth Certificate
• School Identity Card
• National Identification Number
• Local Government of Origin
• Admission Letter

Postgraduate Requirements:

• Completed scholarship application form
• Passport Photographs
• Academic Transcript
• Letters of Recommendation
• Statement of Purpose
• Standard Test Scores (if applicable)
• Admission Letter