FG raises PhD scholarship grants to ₦750,000, unveils major reforms

By Kunle Sanni –

The Federal Government has increased annual scholarship grants for PhD students from ₦500,000 to ₦750,000, as part of sweeping reforms to Nigeria’s scholarship system under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

Minister of Education, Dr. Olatunji Alausa, announced the changes during a meeting with the Federal Scholarship Board, describing the initiative as the most significant overhaul in over a decade.

“This goes beyond funding education—it’s a bold investment in Nigeria’s future,” Alausa said, emphasizing the role of education in building a $1 trillion economy.

Under the revised scheme, Master’s students will now receive ₦600,000 annually, up from ₦400,000, while undergraduate, HND, and NCE students will each receive ₦450,000, increased from ₦300,000.

The adjustments apply to all major federal scholarship programmes, including the Nigerian Scholarship Award, aimed at supporting students in public tertiary institutions.

Alausa also announced the introduction of two new funding categories under the Bilateral Education Agreement (BEA) programme, with ₦1 billion allocated to students in STEM and vocational fields at public polytechnics.

Another ₦1 billion has been set aside for students pursuing Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing, Pharmacy, and Physiotherapy at public universities to boost healthcare education.

The minister said these reforms are designed to strengthen the country’s knowledge economy and develop critical skills needed for national development.