The Federal Government has announced a landmark 50 per cent increase in scholarship grants for Nigerian students at all levels of tertiary education, marking the most significant overhaul of the national scholarship programme in over a decade.

Minister of Education, Dr. Olatunji Alausa, disclosed the development in a statement shared on his official X (formerly Twitter) account on Wednesday. He described the move as a bold step toward easing the financial burden on students and enhancing access to quality education nationwide.

According to Alausa, the revised scheme reflects President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which places education at the center of Nigeria’s transformation into a $1 trillion economy.

“To tackle the rising costs of education and ensure no deserving student is left behind, scholarship amounts have been increased by 50 per cent across the board,” the minister said.

Under the new structure, annual scholarship payments have been adjusted as follows: PhD students: ₦750,000 (up from ₦500,000), Master’s students: ₦600,000 (previously ₦400,000), Undergraduate, HND, and NCE students ₦450,000 (from ₦300,000)

The revamped programme emphasizes merit, equity, and alignment with national development goals, particularly in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medical Sciences (STEMM), as well as vocational education.

As part of the reforms, two new scholarship categories have been introduced they include; ₦1 billion for students in public polytechnics studying STEM and vocational disciplines, ₦1 billion for students in Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing, Pharmacy, and Physiotherapy at public universities.

To promote fairness and strategic impact, the government has structured the scholarship distribution as follows: 50% to undergraduate students, 25% to Master’s students, 25% to PhD candidates, of these, 70% will go to students in STEMM fields, while the remaining 30% will support those in the Social Sciences. Additionally, 5% of all scholarships will be reserved for students with disabilities.

Over 15,000 students are expected to benefit from the Nigerian Scholarship Award, the Education Bursary Award, and the restructured Bilateral Education Agreement (BEA) scheme in the 2025–2026 cycle. A total of ₦6 billion has been earmarked for the implementation.

The programme will be managed 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 bodies to ensure transparency and accountability.

“This reform is more than a policy it is a national investment in our youth and our future,” Alausa stated. “We are not just funding education; we are building the human capital foundation for Nigeria’s long-term success.”