FG launches N50m equity-free grant for student innovators.
The Federal Government has opened a new portal for the Student Venture Capital Grant, a national programme that promises equity-free funding of up to N50 million for students working on serious innovations.
Federal Ministry of Education and signed by Boriowo Folasade, Director of Press and Public Relations on Monday.
Ministry of Education Tunji Alausa said the goal is to find big ideas inside Nigeria’s universities and give young people the backing they need to build real solutions.
According to him, the President wants the next “moonshot” to come from Nigerian students not from abroad.
“We’re not just looking for school projects. We want the next Nigerian unicorn, and it has to start from our campuses,” he said.
Who the Grant Is For
The grant targets students working in STEMM, Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medical Sciences, especially those building practical solutions that can grow into real businesses.
What Makes This Programme Different
The government says this isn’t just ‘apply and go’.
Successful applicants will get:
- Incubation and mentorship
- Equity-free funding
- Tools and technical support
- Help to scale and commercialise their ideas
Google To Help Screen Applicants
To reduce the usual Nigerian bottlenecks, the Ministry announced a partnership with Google.
Google’s Gemini AI will help assess applications, and every applicant will get a free one-year Gemini Pro licence plus learning resources.
The Ministry says the idea is to give students global-level tools so their ideas can compete anywhere.
How to Apply
The application portal is open at svcg.education.gov.ng, and students in accredited tertiary institutions are encouraged to apply.
Students in accredited tertiary institutions are encouraged to submit proposals that can scale, solve real problems, and have clear market demand.
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