Nigeria holds a scary number when it comes to women that are not in school, take for instance the fact that in the country, girls account for 60% of Nigeria’s 10 million out-of-school children, facing barriers such as child marriage, poverty, and discriminatory social norms, according to Malala Fund.
It’s worse in the Northern parts of Nigeria where girls enter early marriages without any proper education, and this also affects their children. This poor education has gone ahead to affect the number of women in leadership, and professional careers in the country.
The good news is that some positive changes are occurring, however, it’s not a fast one, especially when compared with other countries. Well, the best we could do is to compile some scholarships for female students in Nigeria which can help close this gender margin.
Moreover, there are other scholarships that we believe should be of serious help to you such as Microsoft Scholarship for Black People, agricultural scholarships for African students, or even aviation scholarships for Africans, including women.
These scholarships for women in Nigeria are in two ways, the first is for women that want to study in Nigeria, while the second is for those that want to study abroad.
Table of Contents
Scholarships for Female Students to Study in Nigeria
1. The Nigerian Women Association of Georgia (NWAG) Scholarship
The NWAG Scholarship is one of the few scholarships that are exclusively for female students to study in Nigeria. NWAG has one mission to serve the local communities of our country Nigeria through empowerment, cultural enrichment, and education of women, children, and the youth.
The scholarship is worth $300 and an extra $150 will be awarded to the first runner-up from each state in Nigeria. That means, there are 74 scholarships (one winner, one runner-up per state, plus FCT).
Coupled with other requirements you’ll need to qualify for this scholarship, you’ll also need to write an essay on the topic: “Curbing kidnapping epidemic in Nigeria: How did we get there? In what ways can kidnapping be eradicated in Nigeria?”
2. MTN Foundation Science and Technology Scholarship
MTN has been in the business of rewarding high-performing students in Nigerian Public Tertiary Institutions whether male or female for the past 12 years. The MTN Foundation Science and Technology Scholarship is awarded to eligible 300-level students studying Science & Technology-related courses, in Nigerian Public Tertiary Institutions (Universities, Polytechnics, and Colleges of Education).
The scholarship worth ₦200,000 each, will be awarded to 300 successful female and male students annually till they graduate as long as they maintain their required grades.
3. Agbami Medical and Engineering Scholarships
This is one of the scholarships for female students in Nigeria that is funded by Star Deep Water Petroleum Limited and its Agbami partners. The scholarship is for Nigerian students in their 100L or 200L from any state in the country, pursuing a program in one of these fields;
- Medicine/Surgery
- Dentistry
- Pharmacy
- Engineering
- Nursing and Midwifery
- Medical Lab Sciences/Technology
Scholarships for Female Nigerian Students to Study Abroad
4. Forté Foundation MBA Fellows for Nigerian Women
Just like the name, this scholarship is for women pursuing their careers in the MBA field, but first, you need to submit an MBA application to one of the participating schools. Then, the school will determine whether you’re eligible to represent them as a Forté Fellow.
Besides the fact that you’ll be rewarded financially, as a Forté Fellow you’ll also gain professional exposure to top companies, build relationships with past Forté Fellows, and many more.
5. AAUW International Fellowships
AAUW (American Association of University Women) easily earns its spot on our list of scholarships for female students in Nigeria due to its support for women pursuing full-time graduate or postdoctoral studies in the United States. You need to intend to return to Nigeria to pursue a professional career after graduation. You need to have earned the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor’s degree to be eligible.
The scholarships are worth;
- Master’s/first professional degree: $20,000
- Doctoral: $25,000
- Postdoctoral: $50,000
6. Schlumberger Foundation Faculty for the Future
This is among the scholarships for female students in Nigeria or students from developing countries or emerging economies where women are underrepresented in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). Also, you need to apply to a host university/research institute abroad and are willing to go back to Nigeria upon completion of your studies to contribute to its socio-economic development.
7. Zonta International – Amelia Earhart Fellowship
Zonta International awards an annual Amelia Earhart Fellowship worth US$10,000 to 30 women of any nationality pursuing Ph.D./doctoral degrees in aerospace engineering and space sciences. One of the good things about it is that you can use the scholarship at any university or college offering accredited post-graduate courses and degrees in these fields.
8. Margaret McNamara Education Grants
MMEG is a nonprofit, public charity that awards education grants to exceptional women from developing countries, including Nigeria. Besides being a woman from a developing country, you also need to be at least 25 years old at the time of the application deadline; be registered (not just accepted) at an accredited in-person academic institution when submitting your application.
9. The PEO International Peace Scholarship Fund
This scholarship was established to help international women to pursue graduate study in the U.S. or Canada. The scholarship is worth up to $12,500, and you must have a full year of coursework remaining, be enrolled and in residence for the entire school year, to be eligible.
10. Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program
Besides the fact you need to be a woman from a developing country to be eligible, you also need to have relevant professional experience and a history of supporting Nigeria’s development. Also, you need to be applying to a master’s degree program in a development-related topic such as economic policy management, tax policy, infrastructure management, etc.
Conclusion
Basically, there are just a few scholarships exclusively for women to study in Nigeria, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still apply for other general scholarships to study in Nigeria. But, if you intend to study abroad, then the other list provides a handful of solutions.