Funding Amount: ₦50 Million equity-free grant per selected startup (50 student-led ventures selected)
Nationwide Campus Tour Dates: September 6 – September 30, 2026 (spanning 9 primary tertiary hubs & 20 ambassador campuses)
Eligibility Level: Currently enrolled tertiary students at 300 level and above with CAC-registered business ventures
Official Application Portal & Deadline:svcg.education.gov.ng | Closes Wednesday, September 30, 2026
In a major commitment to transforming classroom innovation into high-growth commercial enterprises, the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, has officially launched the second cohort of the Student Venture Capital Grant (S-VCG). Operating under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, the initiative will award ₦50 million in equity-free capital to each of the 50 selected student-led ventures across Nigerian tertiary institutions.
National Project Coordinator for S-VCG, Mr. Adebayo Onigbanjo, announced the application rollout alongside an intensive nationwide campus mobilization drive running from September 6 to September 30, 2026. Implemented through a strategic partnership involving the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), the Bank of Industry (BOI), and the Afara Initiative, the program serves as the flagship “Next Moonshot Initiative” under the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI).
Nationwide Campus Mobilization
To ensure equal opportunity for student innovators developing solutions across Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medicine (STEMM), the S-VCG team is embarking on a multi-state roadshow. The tour targets nine major tertiary institutions, including the University of Lagos, Covenant University, University of Abuja, Nile University, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bayero University Kano, Kano University of Science and Technology, Federal Polytechnic Nekede, and Ambrose Alli University, supported by active ambassador networks in 20 additional schools.
Building on the lessons of the inaugural cycle—which attracted 17,914 applicant registrations across all 36 states and the FCT—Cohort 2 introduces a rigorous screening framework. Submissions undergo initial AI-assisted evaluations followed by multi-stage reviews by human evaluators, virtual pitch rounds, an intensive S-VCG bootcamp, and live physical presentations before venture capitalists and industry leaders.
Six-Month Mentorship
Beyond capital deployment, Dr. Alausa’s strategy emphasizes long-term venture sustainability. Successful beneficiaries will enter a comprehensive six-month mentorship program designed to bridge academia and commercial enterprise, connecting student founders with executive guidance, operational frameworks, and corporate supply chains.
Top-tier market leaders and technology startups have signed on to guide the student entrepreneurs, including ecosystem builders such as Chowdeck, healthcare logistician LifeBank, venture firm Future Africa, Klasha, HostAfrica, GetEquity, OneHealth, and industrial manufacturer Lafarge.
Eligibility Requirements
The S-VCG grant is open to student entrepreneurs building scalable products in technology, healthcare, agriculture, clean energy, education, e-commerce, and logistics. Applicants must be currently enrolled in an accredited Nigerian university, polytechnic, or college of education at the 300 level or above. Lower-level undergraduates may join as founding team members provided the lead applicant meets the senior academic standing requirement.
Additionally, ventures must have progressed beyond the conceptual stage, demonstrate clear commercial traction, and hold a valid Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) business registration. Interested student founders must complete their applications before the firm deadline on September 30, 2026, through the official portal at svcg.education.gov.ng.
