This piece is specially prepared for Federal Government College, Enugu, in fond memory of Late Elder Mrs. Uko K. Igweola, with the aim of gearing the minds of the senior students towards making exploits in the higher institution and enjoying as many scholarships as permitted. It is intended to give a step-by-step approach on the current Nigerian scholarship schemes.

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RECEIVING A NIGERIAN UNDERGRADUATE
SCHOLARSHIP
BY OWUAMALAM, CLEMENT CHINAZA MPHF
A PROLOGUE
This piece was compiled on January 23, 2015 and revised in 2017. It is specially prepared for
Federal Government College, Enugu, my alma mater, in fond memory of Late Elder Mrs.
Uko K. Igweola, with the aim of gearing the minds of the senior students towards making
exploits in the higher institution and enjoying as many scholarships as permitted. It is intended
to give a step-by-step approach on the current Nigerian scholarship schemes and is based
completely on personal experience.
SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS
A scholarship is a financial aid provided to a student, to pay for studies, usually on basis of
academic merit. This financial aid could be made available to the student in form of cash
equivalent, or could be directly paid to the student’s institution.
In some cases, scholarship awards cover the accommodation expenses. Where the student’s
institution is outside the country, they may also enjoy additional allowances.
NIGERIAN SCHOLARSHIPS
In Nigeria, awarders of scholarship range from philanthropic individuals to private companies,
to public as well as multinational companies. Below are some current examples:
S/No. Company Type Body Grant (NGN)
1. Petroleum
Companies
Star Deep Water Petroleum Ltd.
(Agbami Medical and Engineering
Scholarship Scheme)
200,000
(medical/paramedical
courses)
100,000
(other courses)
Total Elf 150,000
NNPC 150,000
NLNG 100,000
Addax 100,000
Agip 100,000
Shell 75,000
Chevron 75,000
Exxon Mobil 70,000

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S/No. Company Type Body Grant (NGN)
2. Public Companies ABC Transport 100,000
MTN Foundation 200,000
3. Federal Government Federal Scholarship Board (FSB) 150,000
PTDF 250,000
4. Philanthropists/NGOs Gani Fawehimi Scholarship 100,000
Due to the “rush” tendency of students to apply and receive scholarships, popular scams
abound. A quick way to identify a dubious scholarship scheme is when applicants are
requested for cash payment, as part of the registration process. The National Youth
Empowerment Commission (NAYEC) Scholarship and the Oyibo Foundation Scholarship
Schemes are common examples.
SCHOLARSHIP CATEGORIES
There are two main ways scholarships are awarded;
1. SPECIAL SCHOLARSHIPS
This category does not require any application. The awarding bodies grant scholarships to
selected students who meet stipulated conditions. It is also not restricted to any level of study.
Some determining conditions include the following:
ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE
Companies involved may request for the best student, or sometimes the best two or three
students in a department for instant scholarship awards. It may also be by way of the best male
and best female student. This is a good reason why students are advised to always give their
best in academic work.
PLACE OF ORIGIN
Local Government Authorities and sometimes philanthropic individuals may request for
students who hail from a particular Local Government Area or community. Two to three
students are often chosen and awarded.
INDIGENCE
Other times, students from family backgrounds on the breadline, are requested and awarded
scholarships. This type, however, is not as regular as others, and is offered by very few bodies.
2. SCHOLARSHIPS BY APPLICATION:
This category is very popular, and covers a lot of the available scholarships in the country. It is
also often level-bound and may not be open to all levels of study. Students in 100 level of
study are normally the target audience of scholarship schemes. Some are also available for

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only those in 200 level of study, while very few (such as Federal Scholarship Board)
accommodate all levels.
Again, some scholarships are available to only selected departments in the university.
However, every department shares an opportunity of receiving scholarship.
SCHOLARSHIP ADVERTS
It is important to note that scholarships are not always publicly announced. Other times, the
application period is very short, and only those that get the information on time apply
successfully.
To get required information on their availability, you must regularly visit the internet as well
as your departmental notice board in the university. Blogs and websites as www.scholastica.ng
and www.studyandscholarships.com could also be useful.
QUALIFYING FOR A SCHOLARSHIP
Application for scholarship is often open to everyone that is eligible, but only those who meet
certain requirements, qualify for the selection examination. The easiest way to qualify for
most scholarships in the country is to excel in academics.
There are three main determiners in this regard:
1. JAMB SCORE
Many companies accept only those that scored at least 60% of the total score in the UTME
(Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination) as set by JAMB (Joint Admission and
Matriculation Board). This is currently 240 marks out of 400. However, this criterion is only
used for applicants in their 100 level of study.
2. O’ LEVEL RESULT
For 100 level applications, some companies (like Shell) require that in addition to 60% of the
UTME, the applicant must have at least 6 credits in O’ Level, including in English Language
and Mathematics.
3. CGPA (CUMULATIVE GRADE POINT AVERAGE)
Where the applicant is above 100 level of study, a CGPA of at least 4.00 comfortably qualifies
them for many available scholarships in the country. Notwithstanding, the frequent CGPA
range is 3.00 - 3.50, viz:
S/No. Scholarship Scheme MINIMUM CGPA REQUIREMENT
1. Federal Scholarship Board (FSB) 4.00
2. MTN Foundation, Shell 3.50
3. Agbami and many petroleum companies 3.00

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THE APPLICATION PROCESS
Application is another sensitive part of the entire process, could be done in three ways, as
selected by the awarding firm. Whichever application method is employed, erroneous
applications as well as double applications (applying twice) can deter invitation to the
selection examination.
The following are available ways in which applications are made:
1. APPLICATION VIA MAIL POST
Here, an application letter, alongside photocopies of other accompanying documents, is
enclosed in an envelope and posted to the address of the company.
HANDLING TIPS
1) Use neat handwriting for the letter and avoid unnecessary cancellations.
2) Always use white envelopes for posting.
3) Ensure that the photocopies of documents are very clear and visible.
4) It is recommended to send the mail via courier service, as it will be delivered within 48
hours.
5) Always include a phone number as well as an e-mail address in the application letter.
6) Always ensure that the name used in the application matches the name on all official
documents attached. Refrain from nick names or new names.
2. APPLICATION VIA E-MAIL
In this method, the application letter and all required documents are scanned and sent via e-
mail.
HANDLING TIPS
Always use a personal e-mail address as well as phone number when requested. This is
because frequent messages that require urgent attention will be sent to via them. It is wise to
create new ones if they are not available, to prevent communication gaps.
3. APPLICATION VIA ONLINE FORMS
Here, the student visits the advertised website, and provides all required information in the
appropriate column. Required documents are also properly scanned and uploaded, then after,
the online form is submitted.
HANDLING TIPS
1) Always use Caps Lock (Capital letters all through) when filling an online form. Email
addresses can however be exempted from this recommendation.
2) Ensure that the scanned documents are clear and visible.
3) Do not click on the submit button until final verification is done.
4) Do not rush. Proper time should be taken to provide required information
5) Do not supply false information, as immediate disqualification could be a repercussion
when discovered.

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FREQUENTLY REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
The following documents, among others, are frequently required during applications:
1) JAMB result printout.
2) O’ level result printout.
3) 2 Passport Photographs (preferably on white background).
4) Local Government Identification letter.
5) School Identification Card.
6) Admission Letter.
7) National Identification Number (which is received upon registration at the nearest
National Identification Commission Centre)
8) Birth Certificate.
9) Verification by the Head of Department (HOD) in the university.
10) Bank account number (both the NUBAN and the sort code, which can be obtained
from the bank)
11) In addition, MTN Foundation Scholarship Scheme, may require the opening of a
Diamond Y’ello Account (DYA), which can be easily done by dialling *710# on an
MTN line or visit an MTN service centre.
PREPARATION FOR THE SELECTION EXAMINATIONS
All received scholarship applications are properly screened, and successful applicants are
invited to the selection examination. This examination is the second screening process and the
invitations could be via SMS, e-mail or public advertisements.
The examinations are properly timed, and mostly leave examinants with 30 to 60 seconds per
question. Indeed, speed and accuracy will pay off, and this can only be acquired by constant
practice before the D-day. GMAT textbooks (like the GMAT by Kaplan and GMAT by IEC
publishers) are helpful resources in preparing for a selection examination and gaining
confidence. Some of these textbooks also come with practice software for preparations.
Participants are encouraged to acquire an elementary level of computer literacy. This would
chiefly include acclimatization with the keyboard, to eliminate cases of tension in a Computer
Based Test (CBT).
Students selected are encouraged to practise the following areas:
1) English Language (including lexis and structure)
2) Mathematics (including quantitative reasoning, graph interpretation, ratio and
percentage)
3) Abstract reasoning.
4) Current local and international affairs.
5) General and vocational knowledge.
Many computer based examinations are focus on the first three sections. However, some other
companies as well as the MTN Foundation and Federal Scholarship Board (FSB), include
the last two sections to the screening examinations. Care should also be taken to read the
instructions before beginning the quiz, and following them to the letter.

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Some awarding bodies (such as MTN Foundation) give transport allowance of about 5,000
NGN, while others do not. In any case, it is important to always travel with some pocket
money to cover incidentals.
It is also important to verify the examination time, to avoid late arrival at the venue or worse
still, missing out completely. Where passwords or registration details are pre-sent, the
applicant should make effort not to forget them. Printed-out copies are recommended, for safe
keeping.
Finally, if the examination centre is in a different state from the state of residence, it is in place
to arrive that state at least a day before the designated date, in order to give enough time to
take care of any contingency that may arise.
SCHOLARSHIP RECEIPT AND MAINTENANCE
Only successful students at the screening exams would be contacted via SMS or e-mail, if they
are selected for the scholarship award. They would then be required to fulfil some paperwork
before obtaining the disbursement.
The grants in most cases last for a period of 3-5 years and range from about 10,000 NGN to
about 250,000 NGN every academic year as earlier seen.
Maintenance of the scholarship is very vital as one may lose it in the same year it was
obtained. The following should be properly adhered to:
1) The CGPA should be maintained and improved-on each session. Care should be taken
not to drop below the minimum CGPA requirement of the awarding body.
2) Regular e-mailbox check is recommended, as periodic information that may require
urgent attention could be sent.
3) Accurate and correct information should always be provided during the annual
information update. Immediate disqualification is likely, whenever any information is
discovered to be false.
4) The awarding body should always be notified of significant changes in relevant
information as bank account number, phone number, e-mail address and the likes, so
that it is updated in their data bank.
5) Finally and most importantly, be very prayerful. Not everyone is happy when someone
excels, but with God by one’s side, no one can be against them.
CONCLUSION
Every bright student can now go to the university! Financial implications are no longer
constraints. Indeed, excellence in our contemporary world is an indispensible virtue.
We are enjoined to be the best in all our dealings and make a difference!
Long live Federal Government College, Enugu.