- Dr. Alausa Leads Scholarship Reform, Over 15,000 Students to Benefit
- He said the initiative aligned with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda
- Emphasis placed on critical sectors such as STEM
The Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa CON, has announced a sweeping reform of Nigeria’s federal scholarship programme marking the most ambitious update in over ten years.
Eko Hot Blog reports that during a strategic meeting with the Federal Scholarship Board, Alausa outlined a bold plan to expand access, improve equity, and significantly increase scholarship funding across all levels of education.
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He said the initiative aligned with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, is geared towards driving inclusive development and positioning Nigeria as a one trillion-dollar economy through targeted investment in human capital.
Emphasis is placed on critical sectors such as Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, Medical Sciences (STEMM), and vocational education.
As part of the reform, scholarship awards have been increased by 50 percent to reflect current economic realities and ease the financial burden on students.
Under the new structure, PhD scholars will now receive ₦750,000 annually (up from ₦500,000), Master’s students ₦600,000 (up from ₦400,000), and undergraduate, NCE, and HND students ₦450,000 (up from ₦300,000).
These adjustments apply across all major federal scholarship schemes, including the Nigerian Scholarship Award.
To further expand the programme’s reach, two new categories have been introduced. The first targets students enrolled in STEM and vocational courses at public polytechnics, with ₦1 billion allocated for their support.
The second is aimed at students pursuing degrees in Medicine, Nursing, Dentistry, Pharmacy, and Physiotherapy at public universities also backed by a ₦1 billion fund.
These new streams are funded by reallocating resources previously designated for the Bilateral Education Agreement (BEA) scholarships.
The revised distribution model stipulates that 50 percent of scholarships will be awarded to undergraduates, 25 percent to Master’s students, and 25 percent to PhD candidates.
Within each level, 70 percent of awards will go to students in STEMM fields, while the remaining 30 percent will support those in the Social Sciences.
Additionally, 5 percent of the total scholarship allocation has been reserved for students living with disabilities, in a deliberate effort to foster inclusivity.
More than 15,000 students are expected to benefit from the enhanced Nigerian Scholarship Award, the Education Bursary Award, and the redesigned BEA programme in the 2025–2026 cycle.
The implementation will be overseen by the Federal Scholarship Board in collaboration with an Inter-Ministerial Committee chaired by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary.
The committee includes representatives from the National Assembly, Federal Character Commission, Ministry of Women Affairs, and other relevant stakeholders to ensure transparency and fairness.
With a total investment of ₦6 billion, the reformed scholarship scheme is a strategic move to develop a skilled, globally competitive workforce.
Dr. Alausa emphasized that the policy is not just about financial support for education, but a long-term investment in national transformation through the empowerment of Nigeria’s youth.
The Ministry of Education has pledged to maintain transparency, accountability, and ongoing reforms in managing the scheme to align with the country’s development goals.
