FG Champions Student Innovation with ₦2.2 Billion S-VCG Grants
01-04-2026
By Admin,
Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem has received a major boost as the Federal Government awarded ₦2.2 billion in grants to 45 outstanding student ventures.
This was made known in Lagos during the
2026 Student Venture Capital Grant (S-VCG) Finalist Bootcamp Closing Ceremony and Awards Presentation.
The winners were selected from 65 finalists whose business proposals were rigorously assessed by a 12-member expert panel.
Delivering the keynote address, the Minister of Education, Dr. Moruf Tunji Alausa, said, “The S-VCG initiative is a key driver of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, designed to empower students to translate their ideas into ventures that can solve real societal problems.”
He added that beneficiaries could access up to ₦50 million in equity-free funding, alongside mentorship, incubation support, and digital tools.
Highlighting the nationwide impact, Dr. Alausa stated, “Over 30,000 applications were received from 404 tertiary institutions, a testament to the creativity and innovation of our youth.”
The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, applauded the students’ tech-driven solutions.
“Digital innovation is critical to national development. I urge all participants to continue building scalable solutions to real-world challenges.”
Earlier, the Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad, praised the finalists, stating, “Initiatives such as S-VCG foster a culture of innovation and equip students with problem-solving skills essential for today’s economy.”
Mr. Adebayo Onigbanjo, National Project Coordinator of the Special Program Operations and Implementation Unit, explained more on the importance of the programme.
“This programme equips students with the resources, knowledge, and confidence needed to build sustainable and scalable ventures.” he explained.
Reflections from the bootcamp were shared by Professor Okujagu and Lantana Elhassan, who emphasized the transformative nature of the experience.
“The bootcamp strengthened our entrepreneurial capacity and provided practical skills that will guide our ventures,” they noted.
In their goodwill messages, some partners and stakeholders including Elsie G. Attafuah, UNDP Resident Representative, Professor Bart Nnaji and Senator Muntare Dandutse also commended the ingenuity and resilience of the participants.
“We applaud the students’ forward-thinking ideas and encourage them to continue contributing to sustainable development.” Attafuah said
Speaking on behalf of the awardees, Itsuokor Marvellous of Pallo – B2B Codebase Scanning System expressed their joy, thanking the government for finding them worthy of the grants.
“This grant is more than funding; it is a powerful endorsement of our ideas and potential. It will allow us to move beyond prototypes to real-world solutions with lasting impact.” she expressed.
The 2026 S-VCG Finalist Bootcamp and Awards Presentation highlighted the immense potential of Nigerian students, reinforcing the Federal Ministry of Education’s vision of nurturing a new generation of entrepreneurs, innovators, and change-makers poised to drive national development.
Highlight of the ceremony was the presentation of grants by Dr. Alausa, who officially announced the 45 winning ventures.
