The Federal Government has opened the application portal for the newly launched Student Venture Capital Grant, a national initiative offering equity-free funding of up to ₦50 million to support student-led innovation across Nigeria.
The announcement was made in a statement issued Monday by the Federal Ministry of Education and signed by Boriowo Folasade, Director of Press and Public Relations.
Speaking at the launch, the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, described the initiative as central to the administration’s drive to inspire groundbreaking innovation within tertiary institutions.
According to him, “The President has challenged us to look for the next Moonshot within our tertiary institutions. We are not just looking for projects; we are scouting for future Nigerian Unicorns whose roots will be planted right here in our universities and colleges. This is an equity-free seed investment in Nigeria’s future.”
The ministry said the grant targets students developing solutions in STEMM fields—Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medical Sciences. It emphasised that the programme is designed to ignite and support student-driven ventures capable of addressing real-world challenges with strong scalability and commercialisation potential.
Successful applicants will have access not only to funding but also to a robust support ecosystem including incubation, mentorship, and specialised tools.
The Federal Ministry of Education also announced a partnership with Google to enhance the programme’s evaluation process. As part of the collaboration, Google’s Gemini AI will power automated assessments on the application portal. Every applicant will also receive a free one-year Gemini Pro licence and access to premium learning resources.
The ministry said the goal is to ensure that Nigerian students begin their entrepreneurial journey “with the very best tools available globally,” adding that the programme aims to build a strong innovation pipeline “from idea to market domination.”
The application portal is now open at svcg.education.gov.ng, and students enrolled in accredited tertiary institutions nationwide are encouraged to apply. Applicants are advised to submit proposals demonstrating scalability, market relevance, and the potential to address critical national or global challenges.
