NHEF Scholars Program for Young Nigerians 2026

Applications Now Open for the 2026 NHEF Scholars Program!

The Nigeria Higher Education Foundation (NHEF) is pleased to announce the launch of the 2026 NHEF Scholars Program, which marks a decade of impact in developing Nigeria’s future leaders. The program is designed to equip talented Nigerian students with the skills, experiences, and networks required to succeed as professionals and leaders. 

About Nigeria Higher Education Foundation (NHEF)

A strong, world-class higher education sector in Nigeria is essential to the development of the next generation of leaders; and contributes to a growing economy, facilitates a just and vibrant social structure, and promotes participation in a stable, lasting democracy. The NHEF is working toward a future in which Nigerian higher education is one of the best in the world – one where Nigerian institutions develop global scholars and leaders of the 21st century that can make a lasting impact in Nigeria and throughout Africa. Therefore, we seek to collaborate with Nigerian universities, and ... continue reading

NHEF Scholars Program for Young Nigerians

Aim and Benefits of NHEF Scholars Program for Young Nigerians

The NHEF Scholars Program identifies exceptional students in their penultimate year and equips them with:

• Exclusive Internship Opportunities: Meaningful work with leading organizations in Nigeria.
• Leadership & Career Development: Participate in impactful training sessions and workshops.
• Mentorship & Networking: Connect with accomplished professionals and NHEF alumni excelling across diverse industries.

Requirements for NHEF Scholars Program for Young Nigerians Qualification

Applicants must:

• Be penultimate-year students enrolled at an NHEF Partner University: (AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, BAYERO UNIVERSITY, UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN, UNIVERSITY OF LAGOS, UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA, UNIVERSITY OF PORT HARCOURT)
• Be well-rounded individuals with demonstrated excellence in academics, extracurricular activities, and professional pursuits.
• Exhibit a strong commitment to community service, philanthropy, and a desire to make a lasting impact in society.

Interview date, Process and Venue for NHEF Scholars Program for Young Nigerians

Eligible candidates are encouraged to take the time to prepare a strong and thoughtful application, as the program is highly competitive. Application quality and eligibility criteria are key factors in the selection process. A strong application will fully address all essay questions, clearly articulate the applicant’s career goals and ambition, and be supported by a well-prepared CV and cover letter.

• How to write a good CV and Cover Letter – Getting Started – NHEF (thenhef.org)
• Answers to Frequently Asked Questions – FAQS – NHEF (thenhef.org)
• Industry Areas & Partner Firms – Industry Areas – NHEF (thenhef.org)

Check also:Humanitarian Scholarship Programme at University of Manchester 2026

Application Deadline

How to Apply

Interested and qualified? Go to Nigeria Higher Education Foundation (NHEF) on portal.thenhef.org to apply

APPLICATION PORTAL GUIDE

• Log on to the NHEF application portal: https://portal.thenhef.org/.
• Register by creating an account on the portal: enter your first and last name, email address, phone number, and password.

• After registering, verify your email address by checking the inbox of the email address you registered with. Click the link or copy the URL to your internet browser.
• Once your account has been validated, log in using the email address and password you created.
• Proceed to the application by clicking on the APPLY tab from the dashboard.
• Complete all the bio-data information and the program essay questions on the application page.
• Candidates should be prepared to upload the following supporting documents: a one-page Curriculum Vitae (CV), a one-page Cover Letter and the most recent Statement of Result (All in PDF format).
• Review application responses and submit.
• Note: We suggest that interested candidates should have the responses to the application questions already filled on a separate document, e.g., Word Document, so it will be easier to copy and paste their responses into the application answer box. This is because the application cannot be saved. Hence, it must be filled and submitted at once. Applicants are also advised to complete their applications using a laptop or desktop computer rather than a mobile device and to ensure access to a strong and reliable internet connection to support a smooth application process.

SUCCESSFUL APPLICATION SUBMISSION

Please take note of the following ways to confirm the successful submission of the application:

• The applicant’s dashboard will show this message upon application submission: “Scholars Program – Application Submitted on YY-MM-DD and the time it was submitted”.
• An email confirmation stating that the application has been successfully submitted will be sent to the applicant’s email address.
• Also, when the Scholars Program application tab on the dashboard is clicked, it will no longer be accessible.

The above three steps are how applicants can know if their application has been submitted successfully.

For more Information, visit Nigeria Higher Education Foundation (NHEF) Scholars Program webpage