State government scholarships are run by state scholarship boards — for indigenes of each state, for study in Nigeria and (where the state offers it) abroad. They vary more than any other scholarship type: each state sets its own fields, levels, amounts, and deadlines, and each state’s board runs its own process. This guide explains how state scholarships work in general, and tells you how to verify your state’s scheme — because no state-specific amount, deadline, or field list is asserted anywhere in this article, deliberately. Your state scholarship board’s official page is the only reliable source for your state’s scheme.
How state scholarships work, in general
- Indigene requirement — state scholarships are for indigenes of the state, as the state’s board states. Proof of indigeneity (certificate of origin, as the board states) is usually required.
- State scholarship board — each state has a board (or equivalent) that administers its scholarships. Find your state’s board — not a general scholarship site, not an agent.
- Levels and fields — as the state’s board states for the cycle. Some states fund all levels and fields; others target specific levels or fields.
- Study location — most state scholarships fund study in Nigeria; some fund study abroad, as the state’s board states.
- Amounts and deadlines — set by each state, for each cycle. No state-specific amount or deadline is asserted here, deliberately.
How to find your state’s scheme, in order
- Identify your state of origin (not your state of residence, unless the board states otherwise).
- Find your state scholarship board’s official page or office — typed directly, not via a forwarded link.
- Read the current cycle’s announcement — levels, fields, amounts, deadlines, documents.
- Prepare documents early — indigene certificate, admission letter, results, identification, as the board states.
- Apply through the board’s official channel only — never through an agent or a personal account.
State scholarships vs federal scholarships: the distinction
- State scholarships — for indigenes, run by state boards, varying by state.
- Federal Scholarship Award (FSB) — for all Nigerians, run by the Federal Scholarship Board, Nigerian Award and BEA streams.
- PTDF — for oil, gas, and related fields, run by PTDF.
You can apply to state and federal programmes in parallel, where each programme’s terms allow it — check each programme’s terms for exclusions.
Red flags: state-scholarship scams
- Fees to personal accounts — state boards do not collect application fees to personal accounts. A fee demand is a scam.
- Guaranteed awards — no genuine state award is guaranteed before selection.
- Agents selling state slots — state slots are not sold. Anyone selling one is running a scam.
- Fake board pages — verify the board’s official page or office before applying; forwarded links and group messages are not verification.
Related Guides & Next Steps
- Scholarships for Nigerian Students in 2026/2027
- Lagos State Scholarship Guide
- Oyo State Scholarship Guide
- How to Apply for Federal Government Scholarship
Frequently asked questions
What are state government scholarships? Scholarships run by state scholarship boards, for indigenes of each state, for study in Nigeria and (where the state offers it) abroad. Each state sets its own fields, levels, amounts, and deadlines.
Who qualifies for a state scholarship? Indigenes of the state, as the state’s board states — usually proven by a certificate of origin, as the board states. Check your state board’s current cycle.
Where do I find my state’s scholarship? On your state scholarship board’s official page or office — typed directly, not via a forwarded link. No state-specific scheme is detailed here, deliberately.
Can I apply for state and federal scholarships at once? Yes, where each programme’s terms allow it — check each programme’s terms for exclusions.
Do state scholarships charge application fees? State boards do not collect application fees to personal accounts. A fee demand to a personal account is a scam.
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.