Most Nigerian students who qualify for scholarships never apply. Not because they are lazy — because nobody told them the scholarships exist, how to find them, or what the actual requirements are. The information is scattered across government portals, university notice boards, and WhatsApp groups where it gets buried under memes.
This guide organises the most accessible and well-funded scholarships available to Nigerian students in 2026 — MTN Foundation, TETFund, and state government scholarships — into one clear reference. For each one, we cover the eligibility criteria honestly, what the scholarship actually pays, the documents you need, and the step-by-step application process. No fluff.
The important point upfront: you can apply for multiple scholarships at the same time. Programmes such as MTN Foundation, Federal Scholarship Board, and state bursaries can be applied for independently if eligibility requirements are met. Applying for one does not disqualify you from another.
1. MTN Foundation Scholarship
Amount: ₦300,000 per year, continuing until graduation
Annual slots: 400 students total
Application deadline (2026): May 31, 2026
Portal: mtn.ng/scholarships
What It Is
The MTN Foundation Scholarship Programme has been running since 2010 and is one of the most reliable annual scholarship programmes for Nigerian undergraduates. It is not a one-time payment — selected beneficiaries receive ₦300,000 annually until graduation, provided they maintain academic and upskilling requirements. Over a four-year degree, that is ₦1,200,000 total per beneficiary.
The programme has three categories:
MTN Science and Technology Scholarship (MTN STS): The primary category, open to 300-level students studying Science and Technology-related courses in Nigerian public tertiary institutions. This covers universities, polytechnics, teaching hospitals, and colleges of education. 300 students are selected annually.
MTN Scholarship for Blind Students (MTN SBS): Open to 200-level and 300-level blind students studying any course at any Nigerian public tertiary institution. For blind students in a five-year Law programme, only 300-level students are eligible. 100 students are selected annually.
Top 10 UTME Scholarship: Automatically awarded to the ten highest-scoring JAMB UTME candidates as announced by JAMB. You do not apply for this category — it is awarded automatically.
Eligibility Requirements (MTN STS)
- Must be a Nigerian student enrolled full-time in a public tertiary institution
- Must be in 300 level (or transitioning from 200 level into 300 level)
- Must be studying a Science and Technology-related course
- University and College of Education students: minimum CGPA of 3.50 out of 4.00, or 3.50 out of 5.00 depending on the grading scale used
- Polytechnic students: minimum CGPA of 3.00 in OND and must have secured HND admission
- Direct entry students: minimum CGPA of 3.00 in OND and must currently be in 300 level at a public university
Eligibility Requirements (MTN SBS)
- Must be a blind student in a Nigerian public tertiary institution
- 200 or 300 level (Law students: 300 level only)
- Minimum CGPA of 2.50 for university and College of Education students
Documents Required
- Valid student ID card
- Admission letter
- Passport photograph
- O-Level result (WAEC/NECO)
- Proof of CGPA (official transcript or result printout)
- Bank account details
How to Apply (Step by Step)
- Visit mtn.ng/scholarships or the MTN Foundation portal
- Click “Apply for MTN Foundation Scholarship”
- Complete the eligibility screening form — this filters applicants before the main form
- If eligible, proceed to the full online application form
- Upload all required documents — ensure scans are clear and complete
- Review every entry carefully before submission — errors are common grounds for disqualification
- Submit before the May 31, 2026 deadline
- Watch your email and MTN portal for confirmation and updates
Honest Advice for MTN Applicants
The CGPA requirement is strict. University students need 3.50 — that is Second Class Upper territory. If your CGPA is below this, focus on the next academic session and apply when you have crossed the threshold.
The volume of applications is high. The distinction between successful and unsuccessful applications often comes down to document quality and completeness. A blurry transcript upload or a mismatched name between documents is enough to disqualify an otherwise strong application.
Apply as early as the portal opens. The May 31 deadline means the portal experiences heavy traffic in the final two weeks. Early submission avoids technical delays and gives you time to correct any errors flagged by the system.
2. TETFund Academic Staff Training Scholarship
Amount: Up to ₦1,500,000 for PhD in science-based disciplines (local); varies by programme
Target: Academic staff of public tertiary institutions (not undergraduate students)
Application: Through your institution’s registry — not a public open portal
What TETFund Is
The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) is a federal intervention agency established under Nigerian law, funded by a 2% education tax on the profits of companies registered in Nigeria. Its mandate is to support and improve public tertiary education.
TETFund is important to understand clearly because it is frequently misunderstood. TETFund does not run an open undergraduate scholarship portal where any student can visit a website and apply. TETFund’s scholarship programme — the Academic Staff Training and Development (AST&D) scheme — is specifically designed for academic staff of public tertiary institutions who want to pursue Master’s or Doctorate degrees.
If you are a student at a university or polytechnic, TETFund’s scholarship is not directly available to you. If you are a lecturer, assistant lecturer, or academic staff member at a public university, polytechnic, or college of education in Nigeria, this is one of the most significant funding opportunities available to you.
Who Can Apply
- Full-time, confirmed academic staff of a TETFund beneficiary institution (public university, polytechnic, or college of education)
- Must have secured admission to pursue a full-time Master’s or Doctorate programme at a Nigerian university (local sponsorship)
- Must not be applying for a second Master’s or second Doctorate degree
- Must not currently be receiving any other scholarship
- Must provide evidence of medical fitness from a public hospital
- Must be willing to sign a bond committing to return to the institution after the programme
What TETFund Pays
For local (in-Nigeria) sponsorship: TETFund covers tuition fees, research grants, and living stipends based on programme level and field of study. The local PhD sponsorship in science-based disciplines is up to ₦1,500,000. For non-science PhD programmes and Master’s degrees, the amount varies.
Foreign scholarship sponsorship was suspended as of the 2025/2026 academic session — as confirmed by UNIBEN’s call for applications, foreign scholarship sponsorship is currently not available, and all TETFund sponsorships are for local Nigerian universities only.
How to Apply
TETFund scholarship applications do not go directly to TETFund. The process runs through your institution:
- Obtain and secure admission to a Master’s or PhD programme at another Nigerian university (you cannot study at your own institution under TETFund)
- Obtain a TETFund Nomination Form from your institution’s registry or postgraduate school
- Write a formal application letter to the relevant authority (typically the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic or the Registrar)
- Prepare required supporting documents: admission letter (with fees clearly stated), letter of justification from your Head of Department signed by the Dean, curriculum vitae, bond form, medical certificate from a public hospital, and bank details
- Submit your complete application package to your institution’s registry before the internal deadline
- Your institution reviews and nominates candidates to TETFund
- TETFund confirms and commences sponsorship for approved nominees
Important Note for Students
If you are currently a student and you aspire to become an academic staff member, TETFund is something to keep in mind for your future career. Many young Nigerian lecturers with ambitions for a Master’s or PhD have funded their postgraduate studies through TETFund — it is the most accessible government-funded postgraduate scholarship for academics in Nigeria.
3. State Government Scholarships and Bursaries
State scholarships are the most overlooked and most accessible funding source for Nigerian undergraduates. Most states offer both bursaries and scholarships to their indigenes studying in tertiary institutions anywhere in Nigeria. The bursary in particular — which is less competitive than the scholarship — is available to essentially any student who is a state indigene and is enrolled in a recognised institution.
The critical word is indigene. State scholarships are open only to indigenes of the awarding state — determined by paternity (your father’s state of origin), not by where you were born or grew up.
Lagos State Scholarship Board
Type: Bursary (all indigenes) and Scholarship (merit-based, competitive)
2026 application window: January 19 to February 27, 2026 (closed for this cycle)
Portal: Lagos State Scholarship Board official website
Indigene requirement: Bonafide Lagos State indigene by paternity
Bursary: A cash grant available to all Lagos State indigenes enrolled full-time in recognised tertiary institutions in Nigeria. Not competition-based — any qualifying student can receive it. The Lagos State government approved ₦375,000,000 for Lagos State students in 2024 under this programme.
Scholarship: Merit-based. Undergraduate applicants must have a minimum CGPA of 3.5 on a 5.0 scale (or equivalent). Postgraduate students must demonstrate strong academic records. Requires passing a selection test.
Documents typically required: Letter of origin from Lagos State, admission letter, student ID, CGPA evidence, O-Level results, passport photograph, bank account details, and parent/guardian information.
Ondo State Scholarship Board
2026 application window: February 17 to March 17, 2026 (closed for this cycle)
Categories: Bursary, Scholarship, and Financial Assistance
The Ondo State Scholarship Board runs three categories. The bursary is open to all Ondo State indigenes in recognised Nigerian tertiary institutions. The scholarship is merit-based and open to second-year students and above — 100-level students cannot apply for the scholarship but can apply under the bursary category.
Key disqualification triggers: part-time students, sandwich programme students, and double registration are automatic grounds for disqualification.
Anambra State Scholarship
Target: Anambra State indigenes enrolled in tertiary institutions in Nigeria
Requirements: Proof of Anambra State indigeneship, strong academic record, financial need, valid student ID, admission letter, and academic transcripts
Portal: Anambra State Scholarship Board official website
The Anambra State programme allows beneficiaries within Nigeria and also (in some cycles) abroad. Applications are submitted online through the official Anambra State Scholarship Board portal.
Other States With Active Scholarship Boards
Most Nigerian states operate scholarship boards with annual or biannual award cycles. The states below all have active 2026 scholarship programmes — check each state’s official scholarship board portal for current deadlines:
- Ogun State Scholarship Board
- Ekiti State Scholarship and Bursary Awards
- Rivers State Scholarship Board
- Oyo State Scholarship Board
- Kano State Scholarship Board
- Edo State Scholarship Board
- Delta State Scholarship Board
The universal process for state scholarships:
- Confirm your indigeneship documents are in order — local government identification, letter of origin, birth certificate or affidavit
- Visit your specific state scholarship board’s official website to check the current application window
- Download or access the online form and read all requirements before filling anything
- Prepare all required documents in advance — do not start the form without them
- Submit early — state scholarship portals frequently experience outages close to deadlines
- Keep a copy of your submission confirmation
Other Major Scholarships Nigerian Students Should Know About
Federal Scholarship Board (FSB) — Bilateral Education Agreement (BEA)
The Federal Scholarship Board administers the BEA scholarship, which funds Nigerian students for postgraduate studies abroad in countries with bilateral education agreements with Nigeria. The FSB also runs local undergraduate awards. Applications are typically open annually and managed through the FSB portal at fsb.gov.ng.
PTDF Scholarship
The Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) scholarship is specifically for students in engineering, environmental science, ICT, and energy-related programmes. It is one of the most valuable sector-specific scholarships in Nigeria, funding both local and overseas postgraduate studies. Application is through ptdf.gov.ng, with deadlines that typically fall in May.
NNPC/SNEPCo and Other Oil Company Scholarships
Several oil and gas companies operating in Nigeria run annual scholarship programmes for undergraduates, with particular focus on students from oil-producing states and students in engineering, geosciences, and related disciplines. These include the NNPC scholarship, the Shell Nigeria scholarship, and Chevron’s programme.
What Gets Most Nigerian Students Disqualified
Based on the patterns across multiple scholarship programmes, the most common avoidable disqualification reasons are:
CGPA below threshold. Most merit-based scholarships require a minimum CGPA of 3.0 to 3.5. Students applying with a CGPA just below the threshold are automatically screened out. There is no workaround — the threshold is the threshold.
Document quality issues. Blurry scanned uploads, mismatched names between documents, expired student IDs, or transcripts not signed and stamped by the institution are among the most common rejection triggers. All document scans should be clear, current, and consistent in the name they display.
Missing the deadline. Many scholarship portals close exactly at midnight on the stated deadline. Applications that are 90% complete at 11:55 PM on deadline night are a risk. Start early. Complete early. Submit early.
Wrong category selected. Scholarships have specific eligibility categories — applying to a 300-level award as a 200-level student, or applying to a STEM award while studying a humanities course, results in automatic disqualification that cannot be appealed after submission.
Applying to only one scholarship. Many Nigerian students treat scholarship applications as if applying to one disqualifies them from others. It does not. Applying simultaneously to MTN Foundation, your state bursary, and the Federal Scholarship Board (where eligible) is not just permitted — it is the smart approach.
Chidi’s Scholarship Stack
Chidi is a 300-level Computer Science student at UNIBEN from Ondo State. In early 2026, he applied for three scholarships simultaneously:
MTN Foundation STS Scholarship — eligible as a 300-level STEM student with a 3.7 CGPA. He submitted in the first week of the application window, uploaded clean digital copies of all documents, and wrote a brief personal statement focused on his academic results.
Ondo State Scholarship (Scholarship category) — eligible as an Ondo State indigene with a CGPA above 3.5. He applied during the February window using his local government letter of origin.
Federal Scholarship Board local award — applied through the FSB portal for the undergraduate local award category.
By May 2026, Chidi had received the Ondo State bursary payment and was shortlisted for the MTN Foundation screening. He is still awaiting the FSB outcome. His scholarship income for the 2025/2026 academic session, if the MTN award is confirmed: ₦300,000 plus the state bursary — enough to cover a full year’s upkeep without touching his family’s contributions.
The lesson from Chidi’s approach is the same principle that applies in the side hustle market: applying for one is hoping. Applying for several is strategy.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How do I apply for the MTN Foundation Scholarship in Nigeria?
A: Visit mtn.ng/scholarships, click “Apply for MTN Foundation Scholarship,” complete the eligibility screening form, fill the full application form if eligible, upload required documents (student ID, admission letter, O-Level results, transcript showing CGPA, passport photo), and submit before the May 31, 2026 deadline. The scholarship is for 300-level students in Science and Technology courses at public institutions, with a minimum CGPA of 3.50 for university students.
Q: What is TETFund scholarship and who can apply?
A: TETFund’s scholarship programme (AST&D) is specifically for academic staff of Nigerian public universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education who want to pursue a Master’s or PhD degree at another Nigerian institution. It is not open to undergraduate students. Applications are submitted through the candidate’s institution’s registry — not directly to TETFund. Foreign sponsorship is currently suspended; only local (in-Nigeria) postgraduate studies are funded.
Q: Can I apply for multiple scholarships in Nigeria at the same time?
A: Yes. MTN Foundation, Federal Scholarship Board, and state bursaries can all be applied for independently and simultaneously, provided you meet each programme’s individual eligibility requirements. Many successful scholarship recipients in Nigeria are receiving two or three awards in the same academic year. Applying to only one is the most common missed opportunity.
Q: What CGPA do I need for the MTN Foundation Scholarship?
A: University and College of Education students need a minimum CGPA of 3.50 on either a 4.0 or 5.0 grading scale. Polytechnic students need a minimum CGPA of 3.00 in their OND result. Blind students under the SBS category need a minimum CGPA of 2.50.
Q: How do I apply for my state scholarship in Nigeria?
A: Visit your specific state’s scholarship board website (e.g., Lagos State Scholarship Board, Ondo State Scholarship Board) and check for the current academic year’s application window. You will need proof of state indigeneship (local government letter of origin), full-time admission in a recognised Nigerian tertiary institution, and academic records showing your CGPA. Most state scholarships are open only to indigenes — not residents — of the awarding state.
The Bottom Line
Three types of scholarships are consistently available to Nigerian students and academic staff every year: MTN Foundation for STEM undergraduates in public universities with strong CGPAs, TETFund for academic staff pursuing postgraduate degrees, and state government bursaries and scholarships for indigenes enrolled in Nigerian tertiary institutions.
The money exists. The portals open every year. Most eligible Nigerians never apply. The ones who do — who apply to more than one programme simultaneously, who submit early with clean documentation, and who do not assume someone else will inform them — receive funding that meaningfully reduces the financial burden of their education.
Know your eligibility. Prepare your documents. Apply early. Apply to more than one.
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