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The Aliko Dangote Foundation Scholarship 2026 is set to provide educational support to 30,000 undergraduate students studying in federal and state universities across Nigeria.
The scholarship programme, announced by the National Universities Commission (NUC), is expected to cover students across all 774 local government areas of the country.
The first phase of the programme is scheduled to commence in October 2026, alongside the beginning of the 2026/2027 academic session.
Unlike a student loan, the Dangote Foundation scholarship will be provided as a non-refundable grant, meaning successful beneficiaries will not be required to repay the support.
For students looking for scholarships in Nigeria in 2026, the programme could become one of the major undergraduate funding opportunities available during the new academic session.
Who Can Apply for the Dangote Foundation Scholarship?
The scholarship is targeted at undergraduate students enrolled in Nigerian federal and state universities.
According to the NUC, applicants must meet the following initial conditions:
- Be an undergraduate student.
- Attend a Nigerian federal or state university.
- Study Science, Technology, Engineering, Medicine (STEM) or a related discipline.
- Have a minimum CGPA of 2.5.
- Complete the official scholarship selection process.
The Foundation has also reserved 5 per cent of the scholarship quota for students living with disabilities.
Meeting the minimum requirements does not automatically guarantee selection. Eligible students will still have to go through the Foundation’s selection process.
How Many Students Will Receive the Scholarship?
The first phase is targeting 30,000 undergraduate beneficiaries.
The Foundation says the programme will cover all 774 local government areas in Nigeria, giving students from different parts of the country an opportunity to benefit.
The scholarship is expected to begin in October 2026, with the 2026/2027 academic session.
What Is the Minimum CGPA?
The minimum CGPA announced for consideration is 2.5.
The NUC describes this as equivalent to a Second Class Lower Division.
Students with a CGPA below 2.5 would therefore not meet the minimum academic requirement currently announced for the programme.
However, having a CGPA of 2.5 or higher does not mean a student will automatically receive the scholarship. Applicants must still complete the selection process.
Which Courses Are Eligible?
The scholarship is focused on students studying:
- Science
- Technology
- Engineering
- Medicine
- Related disciplines
The NUC has not yet released a complete list of individual courses that will qualify.
Students should therefore wait for the detailed scholarship guidelines before assuming that a particular course is eligible.
For example, being enrolled in a programme with a technology-related name does not by itself confirm eligibility until the Foundation publishes the final list of qualifying programmes.
Is the Dangote Foundation Scholarship Application Open?
No official application portal has been announced yet.
The NUC has confirmed the scholarship programme and its broad requirements, but the announcement does not provide an application website, application opening date, closing date or application fee.
The October 2026 date refers to the expected commencement of the scholarship programme, not necessarily an application deadline.
Students should therefore avoid websites or social media posts claiming that applications are already open unless the application route is subsequently confirmed by the Foundation or another authorised source.
How Will the Selection Work?
The Foundation has stated that eligible applicants will undergo a selection process before scholarships are awarded.
The NUC has not yet published the complete selection formula.
This means students should not assume that selection will be based on CGPA alone.
The final guidelines are expected to explain the application process, documents required, selection stages and other conditions applicants must satisfy.
Can Students in Any Nigerian State Apply?
The programme is nationwide.
The Foundation intends to cover all 774 local government areas, while the scholarship itself is targeted at students in federal and state universities across Nigeria.
This means an eligible undergraduate does not have to come from a particular state to be considered.
The NUC has also confirmed that the programme is intended to support students across the country rather than being restricted to a particular university or region.
Is the Dangote Scholarship a Loan?
No.
The Dangote Foundation scholarship is described by the NUC as a non-refundable grant.
This is different from the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), which provides student loans that beneficiaries are required to repay under the applicable terms.
Successful Dangote Foundation scholarship beneficiaries will therefore not be taking on a student loan simply by receiving the scholarship.
What Students Should Prepare Now
Although the official application process has not yet been released, eligible students can prepare for the opportunity.
1. Check your CGPA
Confirm your current CGPA and make sure it is at least 2.5.
2. Confirm your course
Check whether your programme falls within STEM, medicine or a related discipline.
The final course list has not yet been published, so this should be treated as an initial check rather than final confirmation.
3. Keep your university records available
Students should have access to their current academic information and other university records that may be required during the application process.
4. Check your contact details
Make sure your active telephone number and email address are accessible. These may be important for receiving application or selection updates once the official process begins.
5. Watch for the official application announcement
The NUC has confirmed the scholarship but has not yet published the application portal.
Once the Foundation releases the official application procedure, students should follow the stated registration and submission process.
Dangote Foundation Scholarship 2026 Requirements at a Glance
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Scholarship provider | Aliko Dangote Foundation |
| Target beneficiaries | 30,000 undergraduates |
| Eligible institutions | Federal and state universities |
| Coverage | All 774 LGAs |
| Academic level | Undergraduate |
| Study areas | STEM, Medicine and related disciplines |
| Minimum CGPA | 2.5 |
| Students with disabilities | 5% quota |
| Type of support | Non-refundable grant |
| Expected commencement | October 2026 |
| Application portal | Not yet announced |
| Application deadline | Not yet announced |
| Scholarship amount | Not yet announced |
Beware of Fake Dangote Scholarship Links
Because the programme targets 30,000 students, fake application forms and websites could begin appearing online before the official application process is announced.
Students should be careful with anyone asking for money in exchange for a scholarship slot or claiming to have a private application link.
At the time of publication, the NUC’s official announcement does not provide an application portal or application fee.
Do not send passwords, one-time verification codes or sensitive personal information to people claiming they can guarantee selection.
When Will the Dangote Scholarship Application Start?
The Aliko Dangote Foundation scholarship is scheduled to commence in October 2026, alongside the 2026/2027 academic session.
However, the official announcement currently available does not state the exact date applications will open.
It also does not state the application closing date or the amount each successful student will receive.
The National Universities Commission said it will engage the Committee of Vice-Chancellors to create awareness about the scholarship and encourage eligible students to apply.
This means more details are expected as the implementation process moves forward.
The Dangote Foundation Scholarship 2026 is a major undergraduate opportunity targeting 30,000 students in Nigerian federal and state universities.
To qualify for consideration under the requirements currently announced, students must be undergraduates, study STEM, medicine or a related discipline and have a minimum 2.5 CGPA.
The programme will cover all 774 local government areas, with 5 per cent of places reserved for students living with disabilities.
Most importantly, applications have not been officially opened based on the NUC announcement currently available. Students should wait for the official application procedure rather than submitting their information through unverified forms.
NigeriaOpportunities.com will update this information when the Foundation releases the official application portal, deadline, eligible course list and complete application requirements.
