October 26, (THEWILL) – By the time some opportunities reach Nigerian WhatsApp groups, the deadline is almost gone and thousands of people already know about them, or Nigeria was never.
So, rather than recycle the usual scholarship and grant lists, THEWILL went looking for opportunities that have received considerably less attention but are actually open to Nigerians now. They are not all scholarships, but also cash grants. There is funding for businesses and researchers, help with examination fees, free technical training, founder programmes and substantial postgraduate scholarships.
More importantly, each opportunity below has an identifiable application route and published eligibility conditions.
Here are 10 worth checking opportunities before October slips away
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SMEDAN Is Giving Three Nigerian Businesses N30 Million
For Nigerian small-business owners, this is one of the most urgent opportunities on the list.
SMEDAN’s Zero to 100 Pitch Competition has a N30 million grant pool, divided into N15 million for first place, N10 million for second and N5 million for third. Applications opened October 15 and close October 22 at 5 pm.
However, entering requires more than completing a form.
Applicants need a CAC registration number, SMEDAN ID, and PDF pitch deck. They must also record a pitch video lasting between 90 seconds and two minutes, post it publicly on Instagram, tag the required SMEDAN accounts, and use the specified hashtags. Videos hosted on other platforms are not accepted.
Ten businesses will be shortlisted, with the final pitches taking place during the National MSME Conference in Lagos from November 8 to 10. The awards are competitive grants, so applying does not guarantee funding. The deadline for the SMEDAN application is October 22, 2026 at 5 pm.
See the SMEDAN pitch requirements and apply
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AfriSEED Will Pay WASSCE, UTME And Post-UTME Fees For Selected Nigerians
Getting into university costs money before tuition ever enters the conversation. AfriSEED Foundation's Root Initiative is offering examination-fee support to young Nigerians preparing for higher education. The programme covers WASSCE, UTME and applicable post-UTME fees, alongside mentoring for selected participants.
Applications opened October 19, with only 15 places available in each annual cohort. Nigerian citizens and legal residents who are either completing secondary school or have already graduated can apply. However, academic eligibility alone is not enough.
Applicants need strong school records, evidence of financial need, a recommendation from a teacher, and another recommendation from a parent, community leader, or religious leader. The deadline has been confirmed to be November 15, 2026 at 11.59 pm WAT. See the AfriSEED Root Initiative requirements
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Nigerian Founders Can Get Up To One Year Of Training Through
Founder Dojo Imo. You do not need to have a startup already.
Founder Dojo Imo’s second cohort is open to founders and aspiring founders from across Nigeria, including people who have an idea or problem they want to build around but have not yet launched a company.
The programme offers up to one year of zero-fee founder training and mentoring, including in-person intensive sessions in Owerri and remote mentoring from Silicon Valley.
Applicants also have to submit a personal video, and the organisers explicitly warn against AI-generated application answers.
One practical consideration is location. The programme includes physical sessions in Owerri, so Nigerians applying from other states should factor in transport and accommodation costs.
The reviewed information does not state that those expenses will be covered. The final deadline remains November 2, 2026.
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Anzisha Is Looking For Nigerian Founders As Young As 15
Most founder programmes start looking at entrepreneurs in their twenties. Anzisha starts much earlier.
Applications are open for its 2027 Fellowship, which supports young African entrepreneurs aged 15 to 22 who have already started businesses, inventions or social projects.
Nigerians qualify under its African citizenship requirement.
The venture must operate in Africa and serve African customers or beneficiaries. More unusually, the business does not have to be formally registered. Applying is free, and the deadline is November 10, 2026. Apply for the 2027 Anzisha Fellowship
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Carnegie Mellon Is Offering A Free Online AI Certificate
This opportunity is particularly useful for Nigerians who already have some technical foundation but cannot justify the cost of another AI course.
Carnegie Mellon University Africa opened applications on October 15 for the January 2027 cohort of its Certificate in Artificial Intelligence for Africa.
The six-course online programme is cost-free for qualified applicants and includes Python for AI, mathematical foundations of machine learning, machine learning essentials and applied generative AI. However, it is not designed for complete beginners.
Applicants need prior exposure to linear algebra, probability and statistics, as well as programming experience.
They also need a laptop or desktop computer, reliable internet, and enough time to devote around five to six hours each week to the programme. Applicants submit a CV and a short statement explaining their professional goals. Apply online before November 15, 2026.
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UNESCO Has $2,000 Grants For African Scientists Whose Research Was Interrupted
This grant has a very specific audience, which is probably why some eligible researchers may never hear about it.
UNESCO’s Research Continuity Grants offer six institutional awards of up to $2,000 each to African researchers whose natural-science work was interrupted by armed conflict or a natural or biological hazard. Deadline for the UNESCO grant happens to be November 15, 2026 at 11.59 pm mWAT.
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Young Nigerian Founders Can Compete For $5,000 And $10,000 Allianz Grants
The Allianz x Social Shifters MoveNow Social Innovation Challenge has $90,000 in total award funding for youth-led projects around the world.
Applicants must be aged 18 to 30 by the deadline and hold meaningful control over the project. Participants are encouraged to apply on or before December 18, 2026 at 6 pmm WAT.
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Apply for the Allianz MoveNow Social Innovation Challenge
Nigerian PhD Candidates Can Get Up To $8,000 To Finish Their
Dissertations. Applicants must be African citizens resident in Africa, enrolled at an eligible university, and already sufficiently advanced in the PhD process. January 16, 2027 at 5.59 am WAT is the deadline for this opportunity. See the SSRC Doctoral Dissertation Completion Fellowship
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Oxford Has An MBA Scholarship Covering Full Tuition And At Least £21,805 For Living Costs
For Nigerians considering an MBA abroad, Oxford’s AfOx Graduate Scholarship is considerably more substantial than a tuition discount. The University of Oxford is offering up to three awards for the 2027–28 MBA. Deadline: January 6, 2027 at 11.59 pm UK time.
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African Climate-AI Teams Can Enter A Pipeline With Potential Grants Of Up To $200,000
This is the largest possible funding figure on the list, but applicants need to read the wording carefully. The Research and Innovation for Climate Hub is accepting expressions of interest from African researchers, startups, innovators and organisations using AI or data- driven technology to solve climate and environmental problems.
Submit an expression of interest to the RICH Hub
Joy Onuorah is a business journalist and brand communications specialist covering financial markets, artificial intelligence, digital economy, and the ideas reshaping business across Africa and the global market. Beyond her reporting for TheWill, Joy uses brand strategy, storytelling, copywriting, and high-value SEO to help brands build lasting market authority.
