Dr. Tunji Alausa, Minister of Education
The Federal Government has opened the application portal for the Student Venture Capital Grant (S-VCG), offering up to N50 million in equity-free funding for student-led innovations in STEMM fields. The Ministry of Education announced the rollout, describing it as part of efforts to scale high-impact ideas within Nigerian tertiary institutions.
Education Minister, Dr Tunji Alausa, said the initiative aims to identify commercially viable student projects and nurture future “Nigerian unicorns.” The scheme provides funding alongside incubation support, mentorship and access to resources designed to make student ventures market-ready.
To strengthen evaluation, the ministry partnered with Google to deploy Gemini AI for project assessment. Applicants with valid submissions will receive a one-year Gemini Pro licence and access to premium learning resources.
Full-time undergraduates in accredited tertiary institutions, particularly those in 300-level and above, are eligible. Proposals must demonstrate scalability and relevance to national or global challenges.
The programme, also known as the STEMM Up Grant, is being implemented with the Bank of Industry to ensure transparency and measurable outcomes. The portal is now active at the S-VCG website.
