Philanthropist Launches N1bn Scholarship For 1,000 Students At Miva Open Varsity

Nigerian entrepreneur and philanthropist Tunji Olowolafe has launched a N1 billion scholarship programme aimed at sponsoring the university education of 1,000 Nigerian students at Miva Open University, in a move designed to widen access to higher education.

The initiative, known as the Gbemisola Olowolafe Miva Scholarship, will run for five years and fully cover tuition for selected undergraduate students at the online institution.

Olowolafe announced the programme through the Tunji Olowolafe Foundation on the first anniversary of the passing of his wife, Gbemisola Olowolafe, to whom the scholarship is dedicated.

The foundation said the scholarship aimed to remove financial barriers that prevent talented Nigerians from accessing higher education.

“Gbemisola believed that education was the ultimate equaliser, a tool that should be accessible to all regardless of financial background,” Olowolafe said in a statement announcing the initiative.

“By removing tuition barriers for 1,000 aspiring leaders, we are ensuring that her legacy of kindness, excellence and service lives on in the success stories of others,” he added.

According to the foundation, the scholarship will cover the full tuition costs of beneficiaries enrolled at Miva Open University over the next five years.

Applications for the programme are now open to Nigerian students who demonstrate academic potential but lack the financial means to pursue university education.

Olowolafe encouraged interested applicants to apply, saying the initiative was designed to support ambitious young Nigerians seeking opportunities through education.

“To the dreamers, innovators and hardworking students of Nigeria: if you have the drive and ambition but lack the means, this opportunity is for you,” he said.

The foundation said the programme formed part of its broader efforts to support education, empowerment and community development across Nigeria.

Miva Open University, a technology-driven higher education institution, offers flexible and digital learning programmes designed to improve access to undergraduate education for students across Nigeria and beyond.

Founded to drive long-term social impact, the organisation focuses on initiatives that invest in human capital and expand opportunities for young people.