The Federal Government of Nigeria, through the Federal Ministry of Education, has opened the application portal for the Student Venture Capital Grant (S-VCG). This national programme is designed to help student innovators turn strong ideas into real businesses that can solve local and global problems. EducationNGR also learnt that S-VCG is a major part of the Renewed Hope Agenda, aimed at empowering a new generation of Nigerian student entrepreneurs, especially those building STEMM-based ventures.
During the official announcement, the Honourable Minister of Education, Chief Dr. Tunji Alausa FAMedS, CON, explained that the President has instructed the Ministry to find the “next Moonshot” hidden within campuses across the country. He emphasised that S-VCG is meant for bold, scalable business ideas, not just routine school projects. The grant serves as an equity-free seed investment, allowing student founders to retain full ownership of their ventures.
How the Federal Government Student Venture Capital Grant Works
S-VCG supports student-led ventures that address real problems, have growth potential and can reach the market.
Key features include:
- Up to N50 million per venture
- Equity-free funding, meaning founders keep 100% ownership
- Focus on STEMM fields:
- Science
- Technology
- Engineering
- Mathematics
- Medical Sciences
The grant prioritises ideas that can transition from campus-level concepts into real products or services—for example, health tech apps, smart agricultural devices or engineering-driven tools.
Support Package Beyond the N50 Million Grant
S-VCG provides more than financial support. Successful student teams gain access to a full development ecosystem engineered to help them build functional startups.
The support package includes:
- Incubation programmes for idea refinement and prototype development
- Mentorship from experienced industry leaders and founders
- Access to digital tools and growth resources needed to test and scale innovations
This combination of funding, mentorship and technical tools helps students move from concept stage to real-world business execution.
Key Benefits for Students
Through S-VCG, students can:
- Develop and test ideas without giving up equity
- Gain mentorship from experts who understand business realities
- Access advanced digital tools that would usually be expensive
- Build strong portfolios and entrepreneurial experience for future careers
Google Partnership and Access to Gemini AI
To strengthen the programme, the Ministry of Education has partnered with Google. As part of this partnership:
Key additions include:
- Google’s Gemini AI powers evaluation agents on the S-VCG portal
- These agents ensure fast and fair application assessment
- Every student who submits a valid project receives:
- One-year free Google Gemini Pro licence
- Access to premium learning resources
This ensures all applicants benefit, whether or not they receive the N50 million grant.
Who Can Apply for the Student Venture Capital Grant
The grant is open to:
- Nigerian students
- Enrolled in accredited tertiary institutions within the country
Applicants must demonstrate:
- Clear and well-defined problem statements
- Realistic and scalable growth plans
- Strong market relevance
- Clear links to STEMM fields with practical use cases
Applications should show how the idea can evolve from a small concept into a viable product or service that customers will use or pay for.
How to Apply for S-VCG
Applications must be submitted through the official Student Venture Capital Grant portal.
Requirements include:
- A clear plan showing how the idea can scale
- A strong explanation of why the idea matters
- A pathway from concept to product to sustainable business
Teams must also commit to participating fully in incubation activities, mentorship sessions and technical training.
What This Grant Means for Students and the Federal Government
The S-VCG initiative gives Nigerian students a major opportunity to build serious companies while still in school. With up to N50 million in equity-free funding, structured support, and full access to Gemini AI tools, the programme provides a bridge from classroom ideas to real-world entrepreneurial success.
By supporting high-potential STEMM innovations, the Federal Government signals its commitment to placing student founders at the centre of Nigeria’s technological and economic growth.