The Federal Government has opened the application portal for the Student Venture Capital Grant, a national initiative that offers equity-free funding of up to ₦50 million to support student-led innovations.
The announcement was made on Monday in a statement released by the Federal Ministry of Education and signed by Boriowo Folasade, Director of Press and Public Relations.
According to the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, the programme is a key part of the government’s push to boost innovation across Nigerian tertiary institutions. He said President Bola Tinubu has challenged the ministry to identify the next major breakthrough—what he described as “the next Moonshot”—from universities and colleges.
Alausa explained that the government is not only looking for student projects but for future Nigerian tech giants whose beginnings will be rooted in campuses across the country. He described the grant as an equity-free seed investment aimed at strengthening the nation’s future.
The ministry said the grant targets students developing solutions in STEMM fields—Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medical Sciences. The goal is to support ideas that solve real-world problems and have strong potential for growth and commercialisation.
Successful applicants will also receive incubation support, mentorship and access to essential tools to help bring their ideas to life.
The ministry further announced a partnership with Google to enhance the programme’s evaluation process. Google’s Gemini AI will handle automated assessments on the portal, while every applicant will get a free one-year Gemini Pro licence along with premium learning materials.
The application portal is now open at svcg.education.gov.ng, and eligible students in accredited tertiary institutions are encouraged to apply. Applicants are advised to submit proposals that show clear market relevance, scalability and the ability to solve important national or global challenges.
