Nigeria is partnering with Students and Teams to build high impact solutions across Nigeria through Student Venture Capital Grant (S.VCG)
The Federal Government has officially launched the Student Venture Capital Grant (S-VCG), a landmark initiative offering up to ₦50 million in equity-free funding to Nigerian students developing innovative solutions in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medical sciences.
The program, unveiled in Abuja on December 8, 2025, represents President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and signals a decisive shift toward an innovation education system
Education Minister Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa described the programme as a bold investment in student creativity and enterprise, explaining that the Grant offers up to fifty million naira in equity free seed funding for student led ventures with potential for global scale. Students will also receive structured incubation, expert mentorship, innovation tools, and access to academic, industry, and investment networks.
“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,” Dr. Alausa stated. “This is an equity-free seed investment in Nigeria’s future.”
The National Programme Coordinator Mr. Adebayo Onigbanjo announced that the portal has received seventeen thousand nine hundred and fourteen entries from four hundred and two institutions, including three hundred and forty six public and fifty six private institutions since applications opened on November 17, 2024.
The programme is designed to close longstanding investment gaps and build investor confidence in early-stage university innovations, transforming campuses into innovation hubs capable of producing patents, licensable technologies, and market-ready solutions.
Furthermore, in a strategic move to ensure transparency, the Ministry has partnered with Google to integrate Gemini AI into the evaluation process. Custom-built evaluation agents embedded in the application portal will ensure fair, intelligent, and efficient review of submissions.
Every applicant who successfully submits a valid business project or innovation will receive a one-year free Google Gemini Pro license, along with premium learning resources to strengthen their entrepreneurial and technical expertise.
Eligibility and Requirements
The program targets full-time students in 300-level and above across federal, state, and private tertiary institutions. Students in lower level can team up with a student in 300 level or above to apply. They must include them as Co- founder or partner. Ventures must operate under registered business names and will be evaluated by a twelve member expert panel drawn from academia, venture capital, industry, and the public sector.
Successful applicants will receive:
– Up to ₦50 million in equity-free grants (retaining 100% ownership)
– Intensive incubation programs for business model refinement
– Expert mentorship from seasoned entrepreneurs and industry leaders
– Full access to tools, platforms, and resources for scaling startups
– One-year Google Gemini Pro license
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Applications closes on 23 January 2026 after which shortlisted teams will pitch before the expert panel. The initiative has received support from key partners including TETFund, the Bank of Industry, Afara Initiative, Afrilabs, and Google.
Students interested in applying can visit the official portal at svcg.education.gov.ng for more information and to submit their applications.
