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FG N50m Student Venture Grant: How to Apply Easily

The Nigerian Federal Government (FG) has opened the application portal for the Student Venture Capital Grant (S-VCG). This is a nationwide program that offers funding for student-led businesses with grants of up to N50 million, which do not need to be paid back.

This initiative wants to involve student innovators from all 37 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to encourage broad participation and make a significant national impact.

The grant specifically targets students whose business projects are related to STEMM fields, including

Science—biotechnology, agricultural innovations, and scientific research applications.
Technology—software, AI, hardware solutions, and digital platforms.
Engineering – machinery, sustainable infrastructure, and industrial systems.
Mathematics – analytics, financial modeling, and data-driven solutions.
Medical Sciences – health tech, medical devices, and public health innovations.

To apply, S-VCG serves as a nationwide platform that offers funding, validation, and visibility to help student ventures grow from ideas to market-ready businesses. Students who want to apply can submit their applications through the official application portal at https://svcg.education.gov.ng.

Submit your venture
Individuals or groups upload their business information, pitch video, and funding request through the official S-VCG submission portal.
Undergo review and receive feedback.
Applications are evaluated in several stages. Projects that are not selected right away still receive constructive feedback and remain visible in the platform’s Innovation Repository for possible future opportunities.
Validate and improve your solution.
Teams that are shortlisted enter a structured validation phase, refining their solutions, strengthening their business models, and preparing for funding activation based on milestones.
Access funding based on milestones
Teams that are approved receive funding in installments as they reach set milestones. Progress is monitored transparently through the S-VCG system during the incubation phase.
Early applicants will also get a complimentary one-year Google Gemini Pro and Advanced license, which provides access to top AI tools to improve their ventures.

How to set up your account on the platform

To participate, students must first create an account on the official portal. The process begins with entering basic personal information, including first and last name, email address, mobile number, and National Identification Number (NIN). After submission, a 4-digit OTP will be sent to the provided email address to confirm your account.

After entering the OTP, applicants proceed to complete their student profile. Students are required to select their institution type, choose their school, specify their department, and indicate their current level.
Applicants must also upload a valid school document to confirm enrollment. Accepted documents include a school ID, admission letter, or school fees receipt in PDF, PNG, JPEG, or JPG format, with a maximum file size of 10 MB.
Once all required information and documents are submitted, students can finish account creation and access the S‑VCG application portal to submit their business proposals.

Here is what you need to know.

This opportunity is for students who are currently enrolled in colleges and universities across Nigeria. This includes universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education. Students from both public and private institutions can apply.

Applicants must be at least at the 300 level or its equivalent. Students in lower levels can participate, but only as part of a team led by a student in a 300-level course or above. There is no requirement to have a registered company before applying, but all projects must have a business name registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) in Nigeria.
Students can submit applications individually or as part of a team, provided all eligibility criteria are met. A clear business plan is required, outlining expenditure milestones and key performance indicators (KPIs).
Eligible projects must fall under STEMM and must be beyond the proof-of-concept stage, demonstrating real-world potential rather than being just an idea on paper.