The Federal Government has announced a major overhaul of Nigeria’s national scholarship programme, marking the most ambitious reform in over a decade.

The Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa, made the announcement in a statement, describing the initiative as a bold step towards building a more inclusive, knowledge-driven society.

Backed by a ₦6 billion budget for the 2025–2026 academic cycle, the revised programme introduces a 50% increase in scholarship funding across all levels of tertiary education.

PhD students will now receive ₦750,000 annually, up from ₦500,000. Master’s students will get ₦600,000, an increase from ₦400,000, while undergraduate, HND, and NCE students will receive ₦450,000, up from ₦300,000.

These new rates apply to all major federal scholarship programmes, including the Nigerian Scholarship Award.

The reform is a key component of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which positions education as a strategic driver of Nigeria’s transformation into a $1 trillion economy.

According to Dr. Alausa, the new framework is focused on merit, equity, and alignment with national development priorities, especially in critical sectors such as science, technology, engineering, mathematics, medical sciences, and vocational education.

In a significant shift, the Federal Government has restructured the Bilateral Education Agreement (BEA) scholarship scheme.

While current beneficiaries studying abroad will continue to receive support, funding for new international awards has been redirected to establish two new strategic scholarship categories within Nigeria.

One category targets students in public polytechnics studying STEM and vocational courses, while the second focuses on students in medicine, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy, and physiotherapy in public universities. Each category has been allocated ₦1 billion.

To ensure fairness and impact, the Ministry has introduced a new allocation formula. Half of all scholarships will go to undergraduates, with the remaining half split equally between Master’s and PhD students. Of each academic category, 70% of awards will be directed toward students in STEMM fields, while 30% will support those in the social sciences. Additionally, 5% of all scholarships will be reserved for students with disabilities, reflecting the government’s commitment to inclusive education.

More than 15,000 students are expected to benefit from the restructured programme, which also includes the Education Bursary Award.

Implementation will be overseen by the Federal Scholarship Board and an Inter-Ministerial Committee chaired by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education.

The committee includes representatives from the National Assembly, Federal Character Commission, Ministry of Women Affairs, and other critical institutions to ensure transparency, equity, and accountability.