The initiative is designed to support and invest in the educational development of exceptional Nigerian youths.

Through the initiative, scholarships will be awarded to 200 students across the country, thus reaffirming Stanbic IBTC’s commitment to supporting education and providing opportunities for outstanding students to achieve their academic dreams.

Building on the success of last year’s programme, this year’s scholarship targets students who have demonstrated academic excellence.

Requirements

• To qualify, students must have a UTME score of 250 and above, at least five credits in O’Level (WAEC or NECO), and proof of admission to a Nigerian federal or state university.
• The scholarship aims at relieving financial burdens and inspire students to strive for excellence in their academic pursuits.

Stanbic IBTC also said  the award ceremony for the scholarship recipients will be a hybrid event, allowing participants to join either physically or virtually.

The inclusive approach ensures that students, parents, and stakeholders from all regions can partake in the celebrations.

Dr. Demola Sogunle, Chief Executive at Stanbic IBTC Holdings, emphasized the importance of the initiative, stating,

“At Stanbic IBTC, we strongly believe in the transformative power of education. Our commitment to this cause is clearly demonstrated through our scholarship programme, which is designed to nurture and develop the potential of Nigeria’s youth. Our mission is to provide these talented individuals with the resources and support they need to excel academically. We encourage eligible students to take advantage of this opportunity by applying to our programme. This step could be the key to unlocking their academic aspirations and achieving their goals.”

Dr. Sogunle further emphasized the importance of the initiative, explaining how the organization plans to empower young people through comprehensive educational programmes.

He said, “Our efforts aim at equipping young people with knowledge, inspiring innovation, and foster a spirit of leadership, ensuring they have the necessary tools and support to make positive changes in their communities and beyond.”

How to Apply

Applications for the 2023/2024 university scholarship are currently ongoing and close on Sunday, 30 June 2024. Interested students are encouraged to visit here for more information on how to apply.

This initiative aims to tackle the tech talent shortage in Africa, with a bold goal of training 4,000 tech professionals annually. Participants receive training in strategic and in demand niche technical skills like Java, Linux, Cybersecurity, and Data Science.

The induction ceremony marked the beginning of a transformative journey for the selected candidates.

Over the next three months, these individuals will undergo rigorous training and mentorship, equipping them with the necessary knowledge and skills to excel in the ever-evolving tech industry.

This comes barely a month after the strategic partnership with the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF) was announced.

The Ingryd Scholarship Program aligns with the academy’s mission to empower individuals with vital technical skills.

Khadijat Abdulkadir, Managing Director, Ingryd Academy says, “Contrary to popular belief, there are jobs available, but the problem is that there are not enough people qualified for those jobs. Ingryd is training people to perform in those jobs.”

In partnership with LSETF, the program offers full scholarships to passionate tech enthusiasts in Lagos, Nigeria. Selection is based on their tech passion and test scores. Scholars receive hands-on learning, career coaching, and job placement support. Training for the inaugural cohort starts virtually and at Ingryd Academy’s Lagos hubs on October 16, 2023.

More about Ingryd Academy

Ingryd Academy stands as a leading tech talent outsourcing and training company with a steadfast commitment to bridging the tech talent gap in Africa.

Through pioneering programs and strategic collaborations, Ingryd Academy equips individuals with the skills required to thrive in the digital era.

The investigation was initiated in response to reports of discrepancies in Miss Joy’s UTME (Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination) scores, which initially led to her being awarded the scholarship.

In a statement issued by Cornel Osigwe, the Head of Corporate Communications & Affairs at Innoson Group, the company emphasized its commitment to honesty, integrity, and merit-based recognition.

Mr. Osigwe stated that the withdrawal of the scholarship was a difficult decision made by these principles and response to the confirmed findings of the investigation.

The investigation, carried out by an independent committee appointed by Anambra State Governor, Dr. Charles Chukwuma Soludo, has concluded that Miss Joy Mmesoma Ejikeme manipulated her UTME results.

This outcome has deeply disappointed Innoson Vehicles as it contradicts the cherished values of the company, particularly those that underpin its scholarship program.

Although this development has caused dismay among supporters of Miss Joy, including her school principal and other well-wishers, Innoson Vehicles emphasized the importance of maintaining the integrity of its scholarship program and upholding the values it represents.

Despite this setback, Innoson Vehicles remains steadfast in its mission to support deserving students, invest in Nigeria’s education sector, and uphold the highest ethical standards.

The company has always been dedicated to advancing educational excellence and ensuring academic integrity through its scholarship program.

Innoson believes in recognizing exceptional students who not only excel academically but also embody the values of honesty, transparency, and respect for the educational system’s processes.

Innoson Vehicles expressed appreciation to the public, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), the Anambra State Governor’s committee, and all those who have shown understanding and support throughout this challenging situation.

The Digital Sprinters report highlights the potential for accelerated economic growth in Africa through digital transformation, emphasizing the importance of skills development for its citizens.

The demand for cybersecurity skills is on the rise globally, with an estimated 3.5 million cybersecurity job vacancies currently available, compared to just 1 million in 2013.

In Africa, preventing cybercrime through cybersecurity measures could save up to $4 billion annually. However, there is a shortage of trained cybersecurity professionals, as a recent survey revealed that two-thirds of enterprises face challenges in recruiting and retaining qualified experts in this field.

Google is committed to strengthening cybersecurity in Africa by sharing its expertise and expanding access to cybersecurity careers. As part of this commitment, Google is launching the new Google Career Certificate in Sub-Saharan Africa, available online through Coursera.

This certificate program provides Africans with the opportunity to gain essential skills in the highly sought-after field of cybersecurity.

The cybersecurity certificate program will cover topics such as identifying common risks, threats, and vulnerabilities, as well as techniques for mitigating them. Learners will also gain hands-on experience with Python, Linux, SQL, and Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) tools.

To support this launch, Google will provide 2,000 scholarships in collaboration with distribution partners, including the ICT Authority in Kenya, The Roothub in Nigeria, and RLabs in South Africa.

These partners have strong workforce development programs that will help reach learners, provide them with access to the Cybersecurity certificate, and support them throughout their learning journey.

The new cybersecurity certificate is an addition to Google’s existing certificates in Data Analytics, Digital Marketing & E-commerce, IT Support, Project Management, and UX Design. Recently, Google also introduced two advanced certificates in Advanced Data Analytics and Business Intelligence, building upon its entry-level Data Analytics Certificate.

These low-cost programs are designed to be flexible and accessible, allowing individuals to learn online at their own pace and providing opportunities for career changes, even without relevant experience or a degree. The certificates are product agnostic, preparing learners for jobs in any company or sector.

More than 20,000 individuals have graduated from Google’s Career Certificates program in Sub-Saharan Africa, with over 80% of graduates reporting positive career impacts, such as finding new jobs, receiving higher pay, or earning promotions within six months of completion.

Google has also launched Interview Warmup, an AI-powered tool to help job seekers prepare for interviews in the tech field. Success stories from program graduates, such as Aima from Nigeria, Judith from Kenya, and Zizipho from South Africa, further highlight the positive impact of the Career Certificates program.

Through initiatives like the new cybersecurity certificate, Google aims to bridge the growing skills gap in the cybersecurity field, enabling African job seekers to solve local problems and access global opportunities.

This initiative aims to enhance individuals’ capacity by equipping them with the skills required for digital employment opportunities.

Through these scholarships, Nigerian citizens have the opportunity to obtain professional certifications from renowned multinational tech companies such as Meta, Google, and IBM, as well as prestigious US universities.

To participate, applicants need to select one certification program from both Category A and Category B.

Category A, known as the “IT Career Pathway: consists of 19 professional certification programs that are designed to jumpstart a successful IT career. Each program comprises a series of interconnected courses that focus on providing comprehensive knowledge and practical skills necessary for employment in the IT industry.

Upon completing each course, participants will receive a certificate of completion. However, the professional certification will be awarded upon successfully finishing all the required courses within the program.

Category B, referred to as the “Complementary Skills Pathway: offers four certification programs that complement IT career skills. These programs aim to enhance individuals’ proficiency in utilizing digital productivity tools, foster an entrepreneurial mindset, and develop freelancing skills.

By participating in Category B programs, individuals can sharpen their expertise in digital productivity, entrepreneurship, and freelancing, which will complement their IT career skills.

Application closing date: The call for application starts on Wednesday, 31st May 2023, and is to close on Wednesday 14th June 2023.

Training date: The Cohort 2 training starts on Monday, 19th June 2023 for 6 months.

How to apply:

Interested applicants that wants to gain opportunity to skills that can give you access to global jobs should apply via this link.

Coursera is a global digital learning platform that has affiliation with many Ivy League universities across the world. NITDA partnered with Coursera to access licenses for its citizens through the paid partnership on the “coursera for Government initiative.

The MTN Foundation has officially announced a call for applications for its annual undergraduate scholarship award.

The award seeks to recognise and reward high-performing students in Nigerian public tertiary institutions. It targets two categories of students – undergraduates in Science and Technology-related courses and blind students in any field of study. 

According to Odunayo Sanya, Executive Secretary of MTN Foundation,

“We believe in the creativity and resilience of the Nigerian youth. They have the potential to change the world and put Nigeria on the global map in positive ways as we can already see. The role of quality education in empowering the youth for exploits cannot be overemphasised. We are glad to stand with them through the MTN scholarships.”

To date, the Foundation has awarded scholarships to 4,590 students.

To apply for the MTN Foundation Scholarship, applicants studying Science and Technology-related courses in any Nigerian public tertiary institution (universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education) and blind students are required to attain a set Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) score.
How to Apply to MTN Foundation 2023 Scholarship Programme

Eligible and qualified candidates should visit the website to apply before June 18, 2023.

There has been calls for overseas institutions especially in North America to deepen their scholarship program for international students. In line with this reality, The University of Ottawa, a top-notch university in Canada recently made it known that they opening opportunities for Nigerians to utilize their scholarship worth up to $100,000 for African students. 

The University of Ottawa made this known that the new four-year entrance and excellence scholarship worth up to $100,000 for African students newly admitted to English undergraduate programs in engineering, science or social sciences. 

They said that “This renewable scholarship is offered to citizens of African countries who are newly admitted to one of the eligible undergraduate programs offered in English by the faculties of Engineering, Science or Social Sciences.”

“Depending on their average, eligible students could receive an excellence scholarship worth at least $70,000 or an entrance scholarship worth at least $50,000 over four years. Totaling more than $40.5 million, our undergraduate international scholarship and financial aid program remains among the most generous at any major Canadian university. It rewards not only your pre-university academic achievements but also your achievements every term of full-time study. The scholarship will give African students studying in English access to many programs across three faculties by significantly reducing their tuition. “

In conclusion they opined: “To help students throughout the application process, the University of Ottawa will host several virtual information sessions to answer questions and advise prospective students.  Eligibility criteria, programs available and conditions are presented on the uOttawa International English Scholarship website.”

The University of Ottawa, often referred to as uOttawa or U of O, is a bilingual public research university in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. The main campus is located on 42.5 hectares directly to the northeast of Downtown Ottawa across the Rideau Canal in the Sandy Hill neighborhood.