By Gabriel Ameh
📍Abuja | Media360Impact Report
The Federal Government has shortlisted 65 student innovators from a pool of 30,639 applicants drawn from 404 tertiary institutions across Nigeria for the final stage of the Student Venture Capital Grant (S-VCG), a major initiative under the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The programme is aimed at accelerating high-impact, student-led ventures while strengthening Nigeria’s innovation-driven economy.
Announcing the development, the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa, described the initiative as a strategic investment in nurturing the next generation of innovators and job creators. He noted that the impressive quality of entries reflects the growing entrepreneurial capacity within Nigeria’s academic institutions.
According to him, the emergence of the 65 finalists marks a significant milestone, as their ideas will now be refined and positioned for scalability, contributing to long-term national development.
The Student Venture Capital Grant, launched in December 2025 in partnership with the Bank of Industry, provides up to ₦50 million in equity-free funding to student entrepreneurs whose ventures have reached the commercialisation stage.
The selection process involved a rigorous multi-stage evaluation, beginning with AI-driven screening to assess eligibility and alignment with programme objectives. This was followed by human validation and further review by a multi-sectoral panel comprising stakeholders from government, academia, industry and the investment ecosystem.
Finalists will participate in an intensive venture development bootcamp scheduled for March 26 to 29, 2026. The bootcamp will feature pitch sessions, hands-on workshops, live venture assessments and expert feedback designed to enhance investment readiness.
The programme will conclude with an awards ceremony on March 29, 2026, where beneficiaries of the ₦50 million funding will be officially unveiled.
The initiative underscores the Federal Ministry of Education’s commitment to fostering innovation, supporting student entrepreneurship and building scalable ventures capable of driving Nigeria’s economic transformation.
