The Aliko Dangote Foundation has announced a scholarship programme targeting 30,000 undergraduate students in Nigerian federal and state universities, with the first phase expected to cover students across all 774 local government areas.
The scholarship is scheduled to begin in October 2026, alongside the start of the 2026/2027 academic session, according to the National Universities Commission (NUC).
Unlike the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), which provides repayable student loans, the Dangote Foundation scholarship will be provided as a non-refundable grant. Beneficiaries will therefore not be required to repay the support under the scheme as announced.
The programme is targeted mainly at students studying Science, Technology, Engineering and Medicine (STEM) and related disciplines.
Who Can Apply for the Dangote Scholarship?
The scholarship is intended for undergraduate students enrolled in Nigerian federal and state universities.
According to the NUC, applicants must meet the following initial requirement:
- Be an undergraduate student of a Nigerian federal or state university.
- Be studying Science, Technology, Engineering, Medicine or a related discipline.
- Have a minimum CGPA of 2.5, described by the NUC as equivalent to a Second Class Lower Division.
- Successfully complete the Foundation’s selection process.
The Foundation has also reserved 5 per cent of the scholarship places for students living with disabilities.
Meeting the minimum CGPA requirement will therefore make a student eligible for consideration, but it will not guarantee selection.
How Many Students Will Benefit?
The first phase of the programme is targeting 30,000 undergraduate beneficiaries.
The Foundation said the scheme will have nationwide representation covering all 774 local government areas in Nigeria.
The programme is expected to commence in October 2026, meaning students entering the 2026/2027 academic session could be among those considered under the scheme.
Is the Dangote Scholarship Open for Application?
No official application portal has been announced in the NUC’s September 4 announcement.
This is important because students should not mistake the announcement of the scholarship programme for the opening of applications.
The NUC announcement confirms the programme, its target number, broad eligibility conditions and expected commencement date. However, it does not provide an application link, application deadline, individual award amount or complete list of eligible courses.
The NUC said it will engage the Committee of Vice-Chancellors to create awareness about the programme and encourage eligible students to apply.
This means further information is expected before students can complete an official application.
What Courses Are Eligible?
The Foundation has identified Science, Technology, Engineering and Medicine (STEM) and related disciplines as the focus of the scholarship.
However, the NUC has not yet published a complete course-by-course list.
Students should therefore not assume that every course with a science or technology-related title will automatically qualify.
The final application guidelines are expected to provide clearer information on the courses and programmes that will be covered.
Can Students in Edo State Benefit?
Yes. The programme is designed for students in federal and state universities across Nigeria, with the Foundation targeting representation across all 774 local government areas.
This means eligible students studying in public universities in Edo State could potentially benefit once the official application and selection guidelines are released.
Students at institutions such as the University of Benin, Ambrose Alli University and Edo State University who meet the final requirements could therefore watch for the opening of the programme.
However, the NUC has not announced a separate quota for Edo State or any individual university.
How the Selection Will Work
The Foundation has confirmed that eligible applicants will go through a selection process.
The NUC has not yet published the full selection formula, so students should not assume that meeting the 2.5 CGPA requirement automatically means they will receive the scholarship.
The final process may provide additional requirements relating to academic records, course of study, university verification and other information, but these details should only be treated as confirmed once they are included in the official guidelines.
What Students Should Prepare Now
Although applications have not yet been officially opened, students who believe they may qualify can prepare their basic academic information.
Make sure your current CGPA is accurate and that you can access your university academic records.
Students should also keep their admission and registration information available, ensure their active phone number and email address are accessible, and monitor announcements from their universities and the relevant official education authorities.
Most importantly, do not pay anyone claiming to have access to a special Dangote scholarship application slot.
The official NUC announcement currently does not provide an application portal or application fee.
Dangote Scholarship vs NELFUND Loan
One major difference between the Dangote Foundation scholarship and NELFUND is that they are not the same type of educational support.
The Dangote Foundation programme is described by the NUC as a non-refundable grant, meaning beneficiaries are not expected to repay the support.
NELFUND, on the other hand, provides student loans that beneficiaries repay according to the applicable loan terms.
The NUC specifically highlighted this distinction when announcing the Dangote Foundation programme.
When Will Applications Begin?
The scholarship programme is scheduled to commence in October 2026, but the NUC announcement does not state that October is the application deadline or confirm a specific application-opening date.
Students should therefore distinguish between the programme commencement date and the application period.
More details are expected as the NUC engages the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and the Foundation finalises the implementation process.
Dangote Scholarship 2026: What We Know
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Scholarship provider | Aliko Dangote Foundation |
| Target beneficiaries | 30,000 undergraduates |
| Institutions | Nigerian federal and state universities |
| Coverage | All 774 LGAs targeted |
| Fields | STEM, Medicine and related disciplines |
| Minimum CGPA | 2.5 |
| Students with disabilities | 5% quota |
| Type of support | Non-refundable grant |
| Expected commencement | October 2026 |
| Application portal | Not yet announced |
| Application deadline | Not yet announced |
| Scholarship amount | Not yet announced |
The Aliko Dangote Foundation scholarship is therefore an opportunity worth watching for eligible Nigerian undergraduates, particularly students in STEM and medicine-related programmes.
For now, the most important thing is to prepare your academic information and wait for the official application details rather than submitting personal information through unverified forms.
The NUC has confirmed the scholarship programme and its major eligibility conditions, while further details on the application process are expected to be announced.
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