The Tosin Eniolorunda STEM Foundation has launched the Future Builders Fund, a new scholarship initiative designed to empower high-potential, under-resourced students across Nigeria.
This pilot programme aims to remove the financial and structural barriers that often prevent promising students from reaching their full potential in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields.
The launch of the fund follows the Foundation’s prior strategic investments aimed at preparing Nigerian youth for the global digital economy. Last year, the Tosin Eniolorunda STEM Foundation donated a Computer-Aided Design and Manufacturing (CAD/CAM) laboratory valued at over N100 million to Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU).
The Foundation has also supported initiatives worth an additional N50 million, including the Nigenius Inter-School Robotics Competition and the Management Students Association of the University of Lagos Entrepreneurship Challenge.
The Future Builders Fund directly addresses a critical challenge in Nigerian universities: many talented STEM students face financial constraints that force them to abandon their studies. This scholarship targets under-resourced students who possess the intelligence, drive, and “builder’s mindset” necessary to become Nigeria’s future innovators.
Tosin Eniolorunda, Founder of the Foundation, firmly believes that education is a powerful equalizer capable of turning raw potential into real solutions. “Every child deserves the opportunity to become the best version of themselves, and socioeconomic barriers should not be a roadblock to mastery and brilliance,” he stated.
He added that the Fund is designed to “find and nurture the innovators who will shape Nigeria’s future,” creating “financial happiness leveraging the power of education” to help students gain mastery and become innovative change-makers who develop life-changing solutions.
The Future Builders Fund will sponsor 14 outstanding students—two per university—across seven federal institutions in its pioneer cohort. The scholarship package is comprehensive, providing tuition support, hostel accommodation, a laptop, and a monthly stipend. Furthermore, scholars will benefit from ongoing mentorship and development programs designed to cultivate a solutions-oriented mindset throughout their academic careers.
The participating universities, selected across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, include:
- Obafemi Awatolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife
- University of Nigeria, Nsukka
- University of Calabar
- University of Abuja
- Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria
- University of Maiduguri
- University of Lagos
The scholarship is open to STEM students entering 200 level (those who have completed 100 level) at the listed universities. Interested applicants must submit their 100 level academic record (transcript or statement of result) and a personal essay or statement of need.
The selection process is rigorous:
- Candidates will first be screened based on academic merit, clarity of purpose, and demonstrated need.
- The top 10 shortlisted candidates from each university will then sit for a standardized test assessing academic ability, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.
- The two best candidates per university will be awarded the scholarship.
Scholarship recipients will be assessed annually, and renewal will be contingent upon satisfactory academic performance and demonstrated growth in technical or leadership skills outside the classroom.
This pilot edition is the groundwork for a sustainable, scalable five-year scholarship program. It offers an innovative approach that combines financial support with mentorship, leadership development, and practical STEM skill application to accelerate Nigeria’s cultivation of world-class innovators.
Applications are open immediately and will close on October 16, 2025. This initiative demonstrates a clear commitment to nurturing the local talent that will ultimately drive Nigeria’s national development agenda.