The Federal Government has just opened the application portal for the Student Venture Capital Grant (S-VCG), an initiative that promises to empower us, the students, to unleash our entrepreneurial spirit with equity-free grants of up to ₦50 million. This isn't just a grant; it's a lifeline for aspiring change-makers like us, a recognition of our potential to drive innovation and transform society.

Boriowo Folasade, the Director of Press and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Education, boldly announced this initiative, illuminating the government's unwavering commitment to fostering the innovative minds of our youth. This is more than a bureaucratic gesture; it's a clarion call to all of us who dream of making a difference!

Chief Dr. Tunji Alausa, our Minister of Education, understands the gravity of this mission. He emphasizes that this program is crucial for identifying and nurturing high-potential innovations emerging from our universities. “The President has challenged us to look for the next moonshot within our tertiary institutions,” he declared, igniting a fire within us. We are not merely participants in a program; we are the pioneers of the next wave of Nigerian unicorns, destined to grow from our universities and colleges into global giants. This investment is a seed planted in our collective future, a future we must seize!

The S-VCG, affectionately dubbed the STEMM Up Grant, is purposefully crafted for student innovators in STEMM fields,Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medical Sciences. This focus is not arbitrary; it is a strategic choice to harness the extraordinary talents we possess in disciplines essential to our nation’s advancement. We are the architects of tomorrow, and our ideas are the blueprints!

Launched officially on August 2, after its initial announcement in July, the S-VCG is part of the government’s Renewed Hope Agenda. This initiative aims to cultivate student innovations into commercially viable ventures that can effectively address pressing societal challenges. We are not just dreamers; we are doers, and this grant is our toolkit.

This program is specifically designed for us,full-time undergraduate students in our 300-level and above across accredited Nigerian tertiary institutions. If we dare to apply, we stand to gain not just financial support, but also invaluable mentorship, incubation support, and business development services. These resources are tailored to help us scale our ventures and tackle real-world problems head-on. The time to act is now!

Moreover, the implementation of the S-VCG, in collaboration with the Bank of Industry, ensures that our journey is one of transparency, accountability, and results-driven outcomes. This partnership is a promise that our hard work will not be in vain; it establishes a robust framework to evaluate the impact of our ventures and celebrate our successes.

As the application portal opens, I urge my fellow students to rise and seize this extraordinary opportunity. This is our moment to turn innovative ideas into reality. Together, we can shape the future of Nigeria’s economy and technological landscape, and in doing so, we will forge a path of progress and hope for generations to come.