Paying for university can be challenging, but students of Obafemi Awolowo University have several funding routes to explore—from Dallas Scholars and indigent-student scholarships to corporate awards, state bursaries and essay competitions.
Adroit News and Opportunities has compiled 50 opportunities and award categories worth checking. Eligibility depends on factors such as course, level, academic performance, financial need and state of origin.
This is a funding watchlist, not a list of 50 currently open applications. Closed rounds and historical programmes are identified below. Numbering is for reference, rather than a ranking by award value.
OAU-specific scholarships and support
- Great Ife Alumni Dallas Scholars
Dedicated to OAU undergraduates, with recent awards of ₦200,000 per beneficiary. Published requirements include a minimum 3.0/5 CGPA, completion of all 100-level courses and an OAU email address. Next application deadline unconfirmed; the page displays an older round. Sponsor’s application page. - ASUU–OAU Indigent Students Scholarship
Supports registered OAU students facing financial hardship, with a published minimum 3.0 CGPA. The 2026 application required academic confirmation, registration documents and an application letter. Closed on 23 September 2026. Application notice. - UNIFEMGA Scholarship
For eligible Muslim OAU students from 200 level upward, with merit and need-based categories. The published undergraduate grant is ₦100,000. The 2026 round closed on 10 April. Official portal. - Abdulkabir Aliu Foundation OAU Undergraduate Scholarship
The verified 2025/2026 listing requires 3.5/5 CGPA and coordinator screening. Its 4 December 2026 deadline applies to the listed returning-applicant category; first-time applicants need the appropriate fresh-applicant route. Official scheme details. - Omotayo Adegboye Foundation Scholarship
Supports brilliant but indigent OAU students. Reports document 150 beneficiaries receiving ₦100,000 each in 2026. No current public application window verified; enquire through the university’s relevant student-support offices. Beneficiary report. - Sola Lawal Edufund—SLEF
Targets incoming and continuing OAU and UNILAG students whose studies are threatened by financial hardship. Published requirements include two references and a personal statement. An application link is advertised; confirm current-cycle availability. Foundation website. - Yinka and Pelumi Foundation Scholars Programme
The advertised round covered OAU Mechanical and Electrical Engineering students in 100–500 level, with contributions towards tuition, accommodation and materials. Published deadline: 25 October 2026, now passed. Programme notice. - Adewale Obadimu Academic Scholarship
The alumnus describes annual awards supporting outstanding students in OAU’s Faculty of Computing Science and Engineering. Selection involves faculty members and part advisers. No general application window verified. Sponsor’s announcement. - OAU Centre for Gender and Social Policy Studies Scholarships
The centre documents support for female undergraduates to improve retention and completion. This is historical programme evidence; current funding and selection arrangements require confirmation with the centre. Official information. - Kunle Ade Wahab Educational Foundation Scholarship
A reported opportunity for eligible Ikorodu indigenes in specified built-environment courses at OAU and other named institutions. Reported deadline: 30 November 2026; sponsor confirmation remains necessary. Eligibility report.
Corporate, foundation and national scholarships
- MTN Science and Technology Scholarship
For eligible 300-level STEM students, with a route for qualifying 400-level medical students. Published support is ₦300,000 annually, subject to renewal conditions. Check the current application window. Official requirements. - MTN Scholarship for Blind Students
A separate MTN category for eligible blind students studying any discipline, generally in 200 or 300 level, with specific rules for Law students. Check current dates and academic requirements. Official information. - MTN Top 10 UTME Scholarship
For the ten highest-scoring UTME candidates identified by JAMB, regardless of their chosen discipline or institution. This is an automatic qualification category, rather than a general application scholarship. Official information. - NNPC–SNEPCo National University Scholarship
For eligible Nigerian 200-level students in public universities with at least 3.5/5 CGPA. Published deadline: 30 November 2026. Confirm access through Scholastica because the direct application link redirected during checking. Campaign notice. - NNPC–Seplat National Undergraduate Scholarship
For students in 200 level or above, with 3.5+ CGPA, specified courses and qualifying O-level results. The 2026 round closed on 13 March. Official announcement. - NNPC–Chevron National University Scholarship
A scholarship route for eligible undergraduates in specified disciplines. The published 2026 guide identifies 200-level eligibility and academic requirements. The reported 2026 deadline has passed. University financial-aid guide. - Agbami Medical and Engineering Professionals Scholarship
A longstanding scholarship programme associated with eligible medical and engineering disciplines. Historical programme verified; no fresh 2026 application call established here. Chevron programme report. - NNPC–TotalEnergies Scholarship
A historical undergraduate funding route identified by an OAU graduate among his scholarships. Current application availability and eligibility were not independently established for this article. OAU recipient’s account. - NNPC–Renaissance National Merit Scholarship
The nationwide category of the Renaissance JV programme. Published 2026 rules specify 200-level students admitted for the 2024/2025 session, alongside other conditions. Check the current deadline. Sponsor information. - NNPC–Renaissance Areas of Operation Merit Scholarship
A separate category for eligible indigenes of operational areas in Bayelsa, Delta, Imo and Rivers. State origin alone may not satisfy the operational-area requirement. Check the full current rules. Sponsor information. - PTDF In-Country Undergraduate Scholarship
For eligible second-year students in approved courses at public universities. Applicants must have completed first-year examinations; existing scholarship beneficiaries are excluded. Confirm submission availability and approved courses. Official guidelines. - NLNG Undergraduate Scholarship Scheme
NLNG lists an undergraduate scheme among its education programmes. A new undergraduate application window was not verified; students should distinguish it from the separate post-primary scheme. Official scholarship platform. - Jim Ovia Scholars Programme
Supports academically qualified, economically disadvantaged Nigerian university students. Published support is ₦250,000 annually, subject to successful renewal. The homepage still identifies the 2025 application as closed. Official FAQ. - WAAW Foundation Scholarship
For eligible African women studying specified STEM courses, with financial need and community-service commitments. The published award is US$500. The official page says applications are closed and to check back in November 2026. Official requirements. - Nigerian Women Association of Georgia—NWAG Scholarship
Targets female students in Nigerian universities. The sponsor lists a 2026 opportunity, but applicants should open the detailed notice to confirm its deadline and submission requirements. Sponsor’s scholarship page. - Julius Berger Female Scholarship
Supports eligible female engineering students in Nigerian public universities. The 2026 application closed on 16 September. Application notice. - Seyi Bickersteth Scholarship Programme
For indigent 100-level students admitted to federal universities in specified business-related disciplines. Published requirements include 230+ UTME and five WASSCE distinctions, including English and Mathematics. Confirm the current application deadline. Programme listing. - Stanbic IBTC University Scholarship
Supports eligible students admitted to Nigerian federal and state universities. The sponsor page checked refers to candidates who sat the 2024 UTME, so students should await or confirm an updated cohort announcement. Official page. - FATE Scholar Programme
Combines financial aid, mentorship and internship opportunities for eligible young Nigerians entering public tertiary institutions in STEAM disciplines. The sponsor’s 2026/2027 announcement gave a May deadline; that round has passed. Sponsor announcement. - Ojah Scholarship Foundation
Offers broad educational support to eligible 100- and 200-level students, with regional and academic conditions. The official website states that 2026 applications are closed. Official FAQ. - Nifemi Brown Foundation Undergraduate Scholarship
Targets academically strong Nigerian undergraduates with demonstrated financial need; admitted freshers were also eligible in the advertised round. The 2026 deadline was 24 August. Official call. - Kponee-Shovein Scholars Award
Offers selected bachelor’s students in Nigeria a one-year tuition scholarship and stipend, subject to the programme’s full conditions. The advertised 2026 deadline was 15 September. Sponsor website. - Josephine Kponee Fellowship Award
A distinct undergraduate support programme for Ogoni women, offering tuition and a yearly stipend under its conditions. The advertised 2026 application deadline has passed. Sponsor information. - Aliko Dangote Foundation Undergraduate Scholarship Initiative
NUC announced a programme targeting public-university STEM and related disciplines, with 2.5+ CGPA and provision for students with disabilities. Announced programme; no public application portal verified here. NUC announcement. - Federal Government Nigerian Scholarship Award—NSA
A Federal Scholarship Board route for eligible students in Nigerian public tertiary institutions. Current undergraduate eligibility and application dates must be checked against a fresh call. Official department information. - Federal Government Education Bursary Award
A separate federal bursary route for eligible students studying Education in universities and colleges of education. A current application window was not established. Official programme information.
State and community funding
- Lagos State Scholarship Award
Eligible Lagos indigenes at OAU should monitor the state’s scholarship calls and their academic requirements. Current application dates require confirmation. Board’s scholarship and bursary portal. - Lagos State Bursary Award
A separate bursary route for qualifying Lagos indigenes. Students should confirm the current documentation, verification and application rules. Do not assume scholarship and bursary eligibility are identical. Board portal information. - Osun State Bursary
The current published scheme targets final-year Osun indigenes in eligible institutions. Registration is closed. Attending OAU does not itself establish Osun indigeneship. Official portal. - Oyo State General Bursary
The reported 2025/2026 call targets eligible final-year Oyo indigenes in public institutions, excluding final-year Law students from this particular category. Reported deadline: 2 November 2026. Application report. - Ondo State Scholarship and Bursary Schemes
Ondo indigenes should monitor the board’s available categories and screening rules. The board is verified, but a current application deadline was not established. Official board website. - Delta State Students Special Assistance Scheme—Bursary
The published 2026 rules cover eligible Delta indigenes in 200 level and above, with a minimum 2.20 CGPA and other requirements. OAU appears in the approved institution directory. The deadline passed in June 2026. Official board website. - Akwa Ibom State Bursary
For eligible Akwa Ibom indigenes studying full-time in public tertiary institutions. Published conditions include identity verification and restrictions on duplicate government benefits. Confirm the live deadline on the portal. Official application information. - Kwara State Bursary and Scholarship Awards
A funding route for eligible Kwara indigenes, with requirements varying by category and cycle. The verified announcement concerned the 2025 round; a fresh 2026 call was not confirmed. Government application notice. - Isan-Ekiti Scholarship Programme
A community-specific opportunity for eligible Isan-Ekiti indigenes, including university students. The sponsor advertises its 2027 award with a 31 December 2026 deadline. Check the stated age and academic requirements. Sponsor portal.
Academic awards, essay competitions and innovation prizes
- OAU Stars Academic Recognition
Recognises outstanding students across departments and levels through OAU’s Academic and Research Excellence Awards. The 2026 ceremony has concluded. Students should confirm selection arrangements through their departments; a universal cash grant is not established. Official awards website. - Great Ife Students’ Union July 10 Essay Competition
A documented campus essay opportunity associated with the July 10 commemoration. The verified union notice is historical, so its prize amounts and submission rules must not be reused for a new edition. Archived organiser notice. - RGCI Transition Lecture Essay Competition
The 2026 OAU undergraduate competition advertised prizes of ₦100,000, ₦70,000 and ₦50,000. Its July deadline has passed. That edition required original work and prohibited AI-generated submissions. Organiser’s announcement. - Futurum Innovation Awards
Recognises outstanding final-year engineering research at OAU. The 2026 finale awarded ₦500,000, ₦300,000 and ₦200,000 to the top three projects. That edition is complete; monitor the next call. Official OAU report. - NCDMB National Undergraduate Essay Competition
A national writing competition that OAU students have successfully entered: Josephine Oyinkansola Akande won the 2025 edition. The 2026 winners were announced on 23 October, so prospective entrants should prepare for a future call. OAU winner’s story, 2026 results.
Students should keep their admission letter, student ID, current registration form, academic results, passport photograph, CV and relevant origin documents ready. Each application should follow the sponsor’s current rules, particularly restrictions on holding multiple scholarships.
Editor’s note: This list includes distinct award categories within some programmes. Scholarships, bursaries, academic recognition and competition prizes have different selection processes; inclusion does not guarantee eligibility, funding or an open application window.
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