Dangote Foundation Announces Scholarships For 30,000 Nigerian Undergraduates

The Aliko Dangote Foundation has announced a scholarship programme targeting 30,000 undergraduate students attending federal and state universities across Nigeria.

According to information published by the National Universities Commission on 4 September 2026, the first phase of the programme is expected to cover students from all 774 local government areas in the country.

The scholarship is scheduled to commence in October 2026, alongside the beginning of the 2026/2027 academic session.

Unlike a student loan, the support is described as a non-refundable grant. Successful beneficiaries would therefore not be expected to repay the scholarship.

Who may qualify?

The initial eligibility conditions announced by the Foundation include:

• Applicants must be undergraduates.
• They must attend a Nigerian federal or state university.
• They must study science, technology, engineering, medicine or a related discipline.
• They must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.5.
• They must complete the programme’s selection process.

The Foundation has also reserved five per cent of the scholarship places for students living with disabilities.

Meeting these initial conditions does not guarantee an award. Every eligible applicant will still be required to undergo the official selection process.

Could NOUN students qualify?

The National Open University of Nigeria is a federal university. This makes the announcement potentially relevant to NOUN undergraduates studying computing, science, health sciences, agriculture and other programmes that may fall within the final definition of STEM or related disciplines.

However, neither NOUN nor the Foundation has announced a NOUN-specific allocation.

Students should also note that the full list of eligible courses has not yet been released. A programme that appears related to science or technology should not automatically be treated as eligible until the official guidelines confirm it.

Information that has not been announced

The NUC report does not currently provide:

• An official application portal.
• An application opening date.
• A closing date.
• The amount each beneficiary will receive.
• The scholarship’s duration.
• A complete list of eligible programmes.
• Required application documents.
• NOUN-specific instructions.
• The detailed selection formula.

The stated October 2026 commencement should not be presented as an application deadline.

NOUN Update will publish the verified application link and complete requirements when the Foundation, NUC or participating universities release them.

What interested students can do now

Students who may qualify should use this period to prepare without submitting information to unofficial websites.

You can:

1. Confirm that your current CGPA is at least 2.5.
2. Ensure that your name is consistent across your university and identity records.
3. Keep your admission and current registration documents accessible.
4. Confirm that your telephone number and email address are active.
5. Monitor official NOUN, NUC and Aliko Dangote Foundation channels.
6. Wait for a verified application portal before supplying personal information.
7. Keep copies of every acknowledgement when the legitimate application eventually opens.

Do not pay anyone to increase your CGPA, alter your records or guarantee selection.

Scam warning

Fraudulent application links may begin circulating because of the size of the announced programme.

Students should not:

• Pay an agent for an application slot.
• Complete a random Google Form shared on WhatsApp.
• Send money to a personal bank account.
• Share a portal password or one-time password.
• Submit bank or identity details through an unverified website.
• Believe anyone promising guaranteed selection.
• Treat a copied logo as proof that a form is genuine.

At the time of this report, no individual application portal has been published in the official NUC announcement.

What happens next?

The NUC says it will engage the Committee of Vice-Chancellors to create awareness and encourage eligible students to apply.

Students should expect additional information about the application process, participating institutions, required documents and benefit structure before the programme begins.

NOUN Update will continue monitoring official sources and update this report when a verified application route becomes available.

Administrator source

The official NUC announcement published on 4 September 2026 confirms:

• The target of 30,000 undergraduates.
• Coverage of federal and state universities.
• Planned nationwide representation.
• Expected commencement in October 2026.
• Focus on STEM, medicine and related disciplines.
• Minimum CGPA of 2.5.
• Five-per-cent allocation for students with disabilities.
• A selection process.
• That the funding is a non-refundable grant.

The source does not provide an application portal, deadline, individual grant value or confirmed NOUN allocation.