The Federal Government has officially launched the application portal for the Student Venture Capital Grant (SVCG) — a groundbreaking national initiative designed to boost student-led innovation with equity-free grants of up to ₦50 million.
The announcement was contained in a statement released on Monday by the Federal Ministry of Education and signed by Boriowo Folasade, Director of Press and Public Relations.
Speaking at the launch, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, described the programme as a cornerstone of the administration’s push to reposition Nigeria as a global innovation hub.
According to him, “The President has challenged us to look for the next Moonshot within our tertiary institutions. We are not just looking for projects; we are scouting for future Nigerian Unicorns whose roots will be planted right here in our universities and colleges. This is an equity-free seed investment in Nigeria’s future.”
The programme targets students developing solutions in STEMM fields — Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medical Sciences. The Ministry said the grant aims to “ignite and support student-driven innovation by funding ventures that address real-world challenges with clear potential for scale and commercialisation.”
Successful applicants will have access not only to funding but also to a structured support ecosystem featuring incubation, mentorship, and access to innovation tools.
As part of efforts to enhance transparency and global-standard evaluation, the Ministry announced a strategic partnership with Google.
The statement revealed that Google’s Gemini AI will power automated evaluation on the application portal, while every applicant will receive a free one-year Gemini Pro licence along with premium learning resources.
The goal, the Ministry noted, is to ensure Nigerian students begin their entrepreneurial journey “with the very best tools available globally,” adding that government is building “a powerful innovation funnel from idea to market domination.”
The application portal — svcg.education.gov.ng — is now open to students in accredited tertiary institutions nationwide.
Applicants are encouraged to submit proposals that demonstrate scalability, market relevance, and the capacity to address pressing national or global challenges.
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