S-VCG Application Portal Now Open for Nigerian Students (50 million Naira Venture Capital Grant)

The Federal Ministry of Education has opened the application portal for the Student Venture Capital Grant.

The programme supports student founders who want to turn strong ideas into viable ventures with national growth potential. The funding forms part of the Renewed Hope Agenda and strengthens efforts to build a pipeline of young Nigerian innovators who will shape the country’s economic future.

The Minister of Education, Chief Dr. Tunji Alausa FAMedS, CON, highlighted the goal to identify the next major breakthrough from Nigerian tertiary institutions and described the grant as an equity free investment in the nation’s future.

Igniting Innovation with N50 Million Equity-Free Grants

At the heart of the S-VCG is the mandate to ignite and support student-driven innovation by funding ventures that address real-world challenges with clear potential for scale and commercialization. The scheme offers up to N50 million in equity-free grants to student founders with innovations in STEMM fields Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medical Sciences.

Successful applicants will also be absorbed into a comprehensive support ecosystem that includes:

Intensive Incubation Programs

Expert Mentorship from seasoned entrepreneurs and industry leaders

Full Access to Tools, Platforms and Resources required to develop and scale their startups

This strategic structure ensures that funded ventures are not only launched but are supported to successfully transition into market-ready enterprises.

Strategic Partnership with Google for a Global Advantage

To position Nigerian students at the forefront of global innovation, the Ministry is partnering with Google to integrate advanced technology into the S-VCG application and evaluation process. Through this partnership, Google’s Gemini AI powers custom-built “evaluation agents” embedded directly into the application portal to ensure fair, intelligent, and efficient review of submissions.

Additionally, every applicant who successfully submits a business project or innovation will receive a one-year free Google Gemini Pro license, along with premium learning resources aimed at strengthening their entrepreneurial and technical capabilities.

According to the Ministry, one of the key objectives of the partnership is to ensure that “our students begin their entrepreneurial journey with the very best tools available globally. We are building a powerful innovation funnel—from idea to market domination.”

Application Now Open

All eligible Nigerian students enrolled in accredited tertiary institutions are encouraged to apply for this unprecedented opportunity.

The official application portal is now open at: https://svcg.education.gov.ng

Applicants are advised to submit proposals that demonstrate scalability, market relevance, and potential to solve critical national or global challenges

 

Who can apply for the S-VCG Program?
You must be a student currently enrolled in a Nigerian tertiary institution — that includes universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.

Is it only for students in public schools?
Nope! Students from both public and private tertiary institutions can apply.

What level do I need to be in?
You must be at least 300 level (or its equivalent) at your institution. however all students can be members of a team led by a 300 level and above student.

Do I need to have a registered company?
No. Your project or innovation must have a business name registered with CAC-registered company in Nigeria.

Can I apply individually or as a team?
You can apply as an individual or as a team — as long as you meet all the eligibility criteria above.

Do I need a business plan?
Absolutely. You’ll need a clear business plan that includes your expenditure milestones and key performance indicators (KPIs).

What kind of ideas or projects are eligible?
We’re looking for ideas, solutions, projects, or businesses that fall under STEMMS — that’s Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medical Sciences.

Can students in lower levels apply?
Yes, but you’ll need to team up with a student in 300 level or above. Your team’s company or project submission must include them as a co-founder or partner.

Can I submit just an idea or prototype?
Not this time. Your project or business concept must be beyond proof of concept — meaning it should be sufficiently developed to demonstrate real-world potential, not just an idea on paper.