How To Apply For Tunde Onakoya’s ₦250m Scholarship, Free Laptop

Chess in Slums Africa founder, Tunde Onakoya, has partnered with Jobs59 founder, Sam Otigba, and AltSchool Africa founder, HackSultan, to launch a ₦250 million scholarship programme aimed at equipping National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members and recent graduates with in-demand technology skills.

The initiative will provide successful applicants with scholarships worth ₦160,000 to study any diploma programme at AltSchool Africa, alongside career mentorship, internship opportunities, job placement support, and free laptops for selected beneficiaries.

Announcing the programme on X on Thursday, Otigba said the initiative was conceived as a practical response to youth unemployment and the growing need for digital skills among Nigerian graduates.

“We’re solving the Olodo uprising pandemic, one NYSC at a time. That’s our contribution to society,” he wrote.

He added, “That’s why Tunde Onakoya, HackSultan and I are launching a ₦250 million scholarship fund to help recent graduates gain real, in-demand tech skills that lead to jobs.”

According to the organisers, each successful applicant will receive ₦10,000 to cover the application fee and ₦150,000 towards tuition, for a total scholarship value of ₦160,000.

Eligibility

The scholarship is open to:

• Current NYSC corps members
• Prospective corps members
• Recent NYSC alumni

How to Apply

Interested applicants are required to:

1. Visit the NYSC-to-Tech Job Scholarship portal https://altschoolafrica.com/nysc#scholarship-support 
2. Complete the scholarship application form using their NYSC details.
3. Select a preferred AltSchool Africa diploma programme.
4. Submit the application for eligibility review.
5. Await admission guidance and scholarship confirmation if successful.

Applicants who do not own a laptop can also apply for a Laptop Scholarship Add-on, which offers free laptops to selected beneficiaries. The organisers noted that laptop support requires a separate application after completing the scholarship process.

Available Programmes

Successful applicants can enrol in any of the following diploma programmes:

• AI-Powered Fullstack Engineering
• Cybersecurity
• Cloud Engineering
• Data Analysis
• Technical Product Management
• Digital Marketing Automation and Sales

The programmes will run for between nine and 12 months, with participants expected to begin applying for internships from the sixth month.

Beyond tuition support, beneficiaries will also receive internship opportunities, career mentorship, portfolio development guidance, and job placement support through Jobs59.

Otigba said the programme was designed to help corps members turn their service year into a pathway to long-term career success.

“Beyond technical training, participants will also receive career support and internship/job opportunities through Jobs59,” he said.

“We also know that learning without a laptop is a major barrier, so we’ll be providing laptops to a select number of scholarship recipients through an additional application process.”

Onakoya, who is supporting the initiative as a youth development partner, said the scholarship programme is focused on helping young Nigerians develop discipline, resilience and practical career skills while preparing them for opportunities beyond the NYSC programme