Undergraduate Scholarships for Nigerian Students

Undergraduate scholarships for Nigerian students come from oil and gas companies, telecoms foundations, government funds, and universities themselves — and they are awarded mostly on merit, sometimes on need, and sometimes on both. This guide names the established undergraduate programmes, explains how they select, and tells you how to verify each one for the current cycle — because amounts, deadlines, and eligibility change every year, and no amount or deadline is asserted anywhere in this article, deliberately.

Established undergraduate programmes

• NNPC and joint-venture scholarships (Shell SPDC, Chevron/Agbami, TotalEnergies, SEPLAT) — undergraduate scholarships for Nigerian students, often targeted at host communities and specific fields.
• MTN Foundation Scholarship — undergraduate scholarships for science and technology students.
• NLNG Scholarship — undergraduate scholarships for Nigerian students.
• Jim Ovia Scholarship — undergraduate scholarships for Nigerian students.
• PTDF Undergraduate Scholarships — for oil, gas, and related fields.
• University scholarships — many universities run merit and need-based schemes for their own students; check your institution’s student-affairs office.
• State scholarship boards — many states run scholarships for indigenes; check your state scholarship board.

How undergraduate scholarships select

• Merit — UTME score, O’Level grades, and (for continuing students) CGPA. Most corporate scholarships set a CGPA or grade threshold for renewal — an award can be lost if grades drop.
• Need — family income, for need-based programmes. Documentation (income proof, as the programme states) is required.
• Field — some programmes target specific fields (engineering, science, medicine, agriculture). Your field must match the programme’s list.
• Location — some programmes target host communities or specific states. Your state of origin or institution location must match, where the programme states it.

How to apply, in order

1. Shortlist by field, level, and eligibility (host community, state, CGPA).
2. Check the official programme page for the current cycle — amounts, deadlines, eligibility, renewal terms.
3. Prepare documents early — admission letter, transcripts, results, identification, and (where required) income proof.
4. Apply through the official portal only.
5. Protect the award: meet the renewal CGPA or grade threshold every session, or the award lapses.

Related Guides & Next Steps

• How University Admission Works in Nigeria
• Scholarships for Nigerian Students in 2026/2027
• Masters Scholarships for Nigerians
• PhD Scholarships for Nigerians
• Fully Funded Scholarships for Nigerians

Frequently asked questions

When should I apply for undergraduate scholarships? As early as possible — many programmes open to first-year students and to continuing students. Check each programme’s official page for the current cycle; cycles vary.

Do I need a high CGPA to keep a scholarship? Most corporate scholarships set a CGPA or grade threshold for renewal — an award can be lost if grades drop. Check the renewal terms before accepting.

Can I hold two undergraduate scholarships at once? Some programmes allow it, others exclude candidates who already hold another award. Check each programme’s terms.

Are undergraduate scholarships only for science students? No — though many corporate programmes target science, technology, and engineering, foundation and university schemes cover Arts, Social Sciences, and other fields. Check each programme’s field list.

How do I avoid undergraduate scholarship scams? Apply through official portals only, never pay an application fee to a personal account, never trust a guaranteed award, and verify every programme on its official page.

Sources and last update

• Scholarship programmes named here are established programmes as reported; amounts, deadlines, and eligibility change every cycle — the official programme page for the current cycle governs, and no amount or deadline is asserted anywhere in this article, deliberately.
• Scholarship-vs-loan distinction from the NELFUND cluster guides (Batches 6–10): a scholarship is not repaid; NELFUND is a loan, repayable from 2 years after NYSC at 10% of income.
• Scam patterns from the fake-agents guide (Batch 12): application fees, guaranteed awards, and payment to personal accounts are red flags.
• No admission, award, or visa outcome is promised anywhere in this article.

Last updated: 24 October 2026. Guide — review every 3–6 months and on every scholarship-cycle update.