By Epiphanus Obia
Recent graduates and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members can now apply for a new ₦250 million scholarship programme designed to help them gain job-ready digital skills, receive career support and, for some beneficiaries, laptops to aid their learning.
The initiative was launched by Chess in Slums Africa founder Tunde Onakoya, AltSchool Africa co-founder Akintunde “Hack Sultan” Sultan and Jobs59 founder Samuel Otigba. It will provide successful applicants with scholarships worth ₦160,000 each towards a nine to 12-month AltSchool Africa diploma programme in any course of their choice.
Beyond tuition support, beneficiaries will also receive career guidance, internship opportunities and access to jobs through Jobs59 as they prepare for life after NYSC.
Announcing the programme on X, Otigba said the initiative was created to help more graduates build employable skills during their service year.
“We’re solving the Olodo uprising pandemic, one NYSC at a time. That’s our contribution to society,” he wrote.
According to the organisers, each scholarship covers ₦10,000 for application costs and ₦150,000 towards tuition fees. Applicants can choose from AltSchool Africa’s diploma programmes, which include software engineering, cybersecurity, cloud engineering, data analysis, product management, artificial intelligence and digital marketing.
The organisers also said they would provide laptops to a select number of scholarship recipients through a separate application process, acknowledging that many aspiring learners struggle to afford the equipment needed for digital training.
The initiative comes as more young Nigerians are turning to technology skills to improve their employment prospects amid a competitive job market. However, the cost of training and the lack of access to laptops remain significant barriers for many graduates.
Successful applicants will also gain access to mentorship and internship or job opportunities through Jobs59 from the sixth month of their studies, helping them transition into the workforce after completing their programmes.
This is not the first collaboration between the organisers. In 2025, they launched SIWES Connect, an initiative that matched students seeking industrial training placements with companies offering internship opportunities.
The scholarship programme is open to recent graduates and serving corps members. Applications are available through AltSchool Africa, although the organisers have not announced a closing date.