How To Apply For Federal Government’s ₦50m Student Startup Grant

The Federal Government has opened the application portal for the Student Venture Capital Grant, a new national initiative offering equity-free grants of up to ₦50 million to support student-led innovations.

The announcement was made in a statement signed by Boriowo Folasade, director of press and public relations, Federal Ministry of Education, on Monday.

LEADERSHIP reports that the programme targets student innovators across all 36 states, the FCT, and the 37 NYSC catchment areas to ensure broad participation and nationwide impact.

The grant is open to students whose ventures fall within the STEMM fields hereunder:

Science: Biotechnology, agricultural innovation, scientific research applications.

Technology: Software, AI, hardware, and digital platforms.

Engineering: Machinery, sustainable infrastructure, industrial systems.

Mathematics: Analytics, financial modelling, data-driven solutions.

Medical Sciences: Health-tech, medical devices, and public health innovations.

The portal is now open at svcg.education.gov.ng, and students in accredited tertiary institutions are encouraged to apply.

Applicants are advised to submit proposals demonstrating scalability, market relevance, and the potential to solve critical national or global challenges.

How To Apply

1. Submit your business
Applicants upload their business details, pitch video, and funding request through the portal.

2. Review and feedback
Entries undergo multiple review rounds. Projects not selected immediately still receive structured feedback and remain listed in the platform’s Innovation Repository for future opportunities.

3. Validate and refine your solution
Shortlisted teams participate in a structured validation programme to strengthen their business models and prepare for milestone-based funding.

4. Receive milestone-based funding
Approved ventures receive funding in tranches as they meet specific milestones. Progress is tracked through the S-VCG system throughout the incubation phase.

Early applicants will also receive a free one-year Google Gemini Pro & Advanced licence, giving them access to advanced AI tools to enhance their work.

To participate, students must first create an account on the S-VCG portal by providing basic details such as full name, email address, mobile number, and National Identification Number (NIN).

A 4-digit OTP will be sent to verify the email address. After verification, applicants will complete their student profile, selecting institution type, school, department, and current level.

They must also upload a valid school document, School ID, Admission Letter, or Fees Receipt, in PDF, PNG, JPEG, or JPG (max 10 MB).

Once the profile is complete, students gain access to the application dashboard where they can submit their business proposals.