FG increases scholarship grants by 50%, earmarks N2bn for STEMM, medical students

The federal government has announced a major reform of Nigeria’s national scholarship programme, increasing annual grants by 50 percent across all academic levels and introducing two new scholarship categories targeted at students in priority sectors.

Olatunji Alausa, minister of education, made the announcement in a statement issued on Friday, describing it as “our most ambitious overhaul in more than a decade.”

He said the initiative is a key pillar of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and aims to ease the financial burden on students while expanding access to quality education.

“Through the Federal Ministry of Education, the Federal Government has significantly increased scholarship grants across all academic levels, easing the financial burden on students and families, while enhancing access to quality education for all,” the minister said.

“This initiative is a key pillar of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which places education at the heart of Nigeria’s transformation into a $1 trillion economy.

“In this light, the revised programme emphasises merit, equity, and relevance to national development priorities—particularly in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, Medical Sciences (STEMM), and vocational education.”

According to Alausa, PhD students will now receive N750,000 annually—up from N500,000. Master’s students will get N600,000 (from N400,000), while undergraduate, HND, and NCE students will receive N450,000 (up from N300,000).

“The first targets students in public polytechnics pursuing STEM and vocational training, with ₦1 billion allocated to this group,” he said.

“The second is tailored for students studying medicine, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy, and physiotherapy in public universities, also supported with N1 billion. These new categories reflect our commitment to investing in high-impact sectors critical to national development.

“We have introduced a revised allocation framework to ensure fairness and impact. Under this new structure, 50% of scholarships will go to undergraduate students, 25% to Master’s, and 25% to PhD candidates.

“Of each category, 70% of awards will support students in STEMM disciplines, while 30% will support the Social Sciences. In a deliberate move to foster inclusion, 5% of all scholarships will be reserved for students with disabilities.”

According to the minister, over 15,000 students are expected to benefit from the revised Nigerian Scholarship Award, the Education Bursary Award, and the restructured BEA scheme.

The implementation will be overseen by the Federal Scholarship Board and an inter-ministerial committee chaired by the permanent secretary of the ministry.