The Federal Government has opened the application portal for the ₦50 million Student Venture Capital Grant (S-VCG), a flagship initiative aimed at supporting student innovators across Nigeria’s tertiary institutions.
The scheme, launched by the Federal Ministry of Education on Monday, is part of the administration’s broader ‘Next Moonshot’ agenda to identify and nurture high-impact, commercially viable ideas.
According to the Ministry, the grant targets solutions in STEMM fields and offers equity-free funding of up to ₦50 million to student founders whose innovations show strong potential for market success and national development.
“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,” the Minister of Education, Chief Dr Tunji Alausa, said during the launch.
The ministry noted that successful applicants will also be absorbed into a comprehensive support ecosystem, including intensive incubation programmes and mentorship from seasoned entrepreneurs. The initiative further provides access to platforms, tools, and resources required to scale ventures into market-ready enterprises.
As part of efforts to globalise the programme, the Ministry has entered a strategic partnership with Google, integrating the tech giant’s Gemini AI into the application and evaluation process.
Every student who submits a valid project will also receive a one-year Google Gemini Pro licence and premium learning resources to strengthen their entrepreneurial capacity.
“The President has challenged us to look for the next Moonshot within our tertiary institutions,” Alausa said. “We are building a powerful innovation funnel, from idea to market domination, equipping our students with the best global tools,” the Ministry added.
The portal, now open to all students in accredited tertiary institutions, invites proposals that demonstrate scalability, market relevance, and the capacity to solve critical national or global challenges.
