The federal government has announced that it has increased scholarship grants across all education levels to by 50 per cent to tackle the rising cost of education in the country.
It added that apart from easing the financial burden on students, families, and also enhancing access to quality education for all, it would also ensure that no deserving student is left behind, scholarship amounts have been increased by 50 per cent across board.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Olatunji Alausa, in a statement issued Wednesday said the revised programme emphasizes merit, equity, and relevance to national development priorities — particularly in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, Medical Sciences (STEMM), and vocational education.
He also revealed that the federal government has restructured the Bilateral Education Agreement (BEA) scholarship scheme.
The minister explained that while existing beneficiaries would continue to receive their entitlements, funds previously earmarked for new international awards have been repurposed to introduce two new strategic scholarship categories under the national programme.
He noted: “The first targets students in public polytechnics pursuing STEM and vocational training, with ₦1 billion allocated to this group.
“The second is tailored for students studying Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing, Pharmacy, and Physiotherapy in public universities, also supported with ₦1 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 per cent of scholarships will go to undergraduate students, 25 per cent to Master’s, and 25 per cent to PhD candidates.
“Of each category, 70 per cent of awards will support students in STEMM disciplines, while 30 per cent will support the Social Sciences. In a deliberate move to foster inclusion, five per cent of all scholarships will be reserved for students with disabilities.
“To tackle the rising costs of education and to ensure that no deserving student is left behind, scholarship amounts have been increased by 50 per cent across board.”
The minister stressed that PhD students will now receive ₦750,000 annually (up from ₦500,000), Master’s students ₦600,000 (from ₦400,000), and undergraduate, HND, and NCE students ₦450,000 (up from ₦300,000).
He said these enhanced awards apply to all major programmes, including the Nigerian Scholarship Award.
Alausa noted that over 15,000 students are expected to benefit from the Nigerian Scholarship Award, Education Bursary Award, and the restructured BEA scheme.
He further explained that the implementation would be coordinated by the Federal Scholarship Board in partnership with an Inter-Ministerial Committee chaired by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry.
“With a total budget of ₦6 billion allocated for the 2025–2026 cycle, this reform is more than a policy — it is a bold national investment in our youth, our future, and our collective prosperity. We are not just funding education—we are building the human capital foundation for Nigeria’s long-term success,” Alausa added.