The Gbemiga Abiodun Foundation scholarship gives Ogun State students from primary school to university tuition support of ₦50,000 to ₦250,000, plus books, uniforms and writing materials. Tertiary students get ₦250,000, technical college students ₦150,000, and pupils in public primary and secondary schools ₦50,000 to ₦100,000. You must be aged 6 to 25 and show financial need.
The 2026 application round closed on 1 October 2026. The deadline for the 2027 round is 1 October 2027. Parents apply for younger children, while university, polytechnic and college of education students can apply for themselves through the foundation’s Google Form.
About the Gbemiga Abiodun Foundation
Governor Dapo Abiodun and his family set up the Gbemiga Abiodun Memorial Education Support Programme in 2023 in memory of their late son Gbemiga. It started in the Remo area (Ikenne, Remo North and Sagamu local government areas), and at the 2024 award ceremony the governor said it would grow to the state’s other 17 LGAs. Beneficiaries also get academic monitoring and access to the GAF Beneficiary Portal.
The Guardian’s report on the October 2023 launch adds useful background. The family funds the programme itself. At launch it was described as a three-year award for learners in public schools, and it was split into two strands: a scholarship for students who are both in need and doing well, and a bursary for students in need whose grades are not exceptional. Technical colleges, vocational centres and learners with special needs were named as part of the plan.
| Award ceremony | Beneficiaries | Total |
|---|---|---|
| October 2023 launch, Iperu | About 500 to 550 students (reports differ) | About ₦55 million |
| 7 October 2024, Iperu-Remo | 819 students (159 tertiary, 366 secondary, 294 primary) | About ₦91 million |
| 7 October 2025, Iperu-Remo | 932 students | Over ₦252 million |
The awards are presented each year around 7 October, the anniversary of Gbemiga’s death, which is why the application window closes at the start of the month.
Gbemiga Abiodun Foundation scholarship amounts
| Level | Tuition support |
|---|---|
| Public primary and secondary school | ₦50,000 to ₦100,000 (₦50,000 primary, ₦100,000 secondary in 2025) |
| Technical college | ₦150,000 |
| Tertiary institution | ₦250,000 |
In 2025, FUNAAB confirmed that each of its four students received ₦250,000. Learning materials (books, uniforms, writing materials) are listed on top of the cash.
How the money reaches you depends on your level. At launch the organisers said primary and secondary funds go into a dedicated account and are paid out through head teachers and principals, while tertiary students are paid directly. That explains the bank account rule for older applicants below.
Who can apply for the Gbemiga Abiodun Foundation scholarship
- Ogun State link: indigene of Ogun State, according to the main listing. Another listing says resident, so if you are a resident but not an indigene, check the form before you apply.
- Age: 6 to 25.
- Need: your family needs financial help with your schooling.
- Grades: at least 70% in school results, or a CGPA of 3.5 or more for tertiary students.
- Bank account: a personal account with a commercial bank (for older applicants).
- Participation: you agree to take part actively in the programme, including monitoring.
Eligibility edge cases
- Private school pupils: the primary and secondary support is described for public schools. If your child attends a private school, expect the form to steer you away from those tiers.
- Ogun indigenes studying outside the state: the listings ask for an Ogun link, not an Ogun school, at tertiary level. A student from Ijebu studying in Lagos or Ibadan appears to fit, but read the form’s wording on the year you apply.
- Age 25 and above: the upper limit is 25. If you turn 26 before the award date, you are likely outside the range.
- CGPA just under 3.5: the stated cut-off is 3.5. The 2023 launch described a bursary strand for students who are in need without top grades, but current listings do not say whether that strand still accepts open applications.
- Past beneficiaries: the award was announced as a three-year programme with monitoring. The foundation has not published whether past winners must reapply each year or are renewed through the beneficiary portal. Ask through your portal account.
Documents for the Gbemiga Abiodun scholarship
| Document | Notes |
|---|---|
| Passport photograph | Recent |
| Identity card | School ID card or NIN slip |
| Proof of residence | For example a utility bill or a letter from your community head |
| Birth certificate | Or a declaration of age |
| Academic documents | Latest school result; transcript or result slip for tertiary students |
| Parent or guardian details | Name, phone number and address |
Scan each document as a clear PDF or JPG with all four corners visible. Phone camera scans work if the light is good and the text is sharp. Name the files simply (for example “Adeyemi_Tolu_result.pdf”) so you upload the right one in the right slot. If you have a local government certificate of origin, keep it ready too; it is the easiest way to prove the indigene link if the form asks.
Deadline
The 2027 round closes on 1 October 2027 (based on this year’s date; confirm on the official page when the call opens). Collect the birth certificate and proof of residence early, since those take the longest. Applying is free. Never pay anyone who offers to submit, “fast track” or guarantee your application.
How to apply for the Gbemiga Abiodun Foundation scholarship, step by step
- Prepare the documents: scan all six items clearly.
- Open the form: use the Gbemiga Abiodun Foundation Google Form or the apply page at gbemigaabiodunfoundation.com/apply.
- Create your account: use a working email address and phone number. For a child, use the parent’s email and phone, since that is where updates will go.
- Fill in personal and academic details: for children, a parent or guardian fills the form. Enter names exactly as they appear on the birth certificate and school records.
- Explain your need honestly: if there is a space for family circumstances, fill it with facts (see the next section).
- Upload, review and submit: do it before 1 October 2027. Screenshot the confirmation page.
- Keep your phone on: respond quickly if the foundation or your school contacts you to verify details.
How to write the statement of need
The foundation has not published the exact questions on its form, and it does not ask for a formal essay in the listings I checked. Need-based forms like this one usually include a box for family background or reasons for applying. Since this award exists for indigent learners, that box carries real weight.
Selectors want to see two things quickly: that the need is genuine and that the student will use the support well. A simple structure for 100 to 200 words:
- Household facts: who the student lives with, what the parents or guardians do, how many children are in school.
- The specific gap: unpaid fees, no textbooks, a parent who lost work. Give one concrete example.
- Effort so far: results, positions in class, any work the student does to help pay.
- Use of the money: what the ₦250,000 or ₦100,000 would pay for first.
An example opening, made up for illustration: “I am a 200 level Microbiology student at Olabisi Onabanjo University with a CGPA of 3.82. My mother sells foodstuff in Sagamu market and pays the school fees of three children alone since my father died in 2024.” Two sentences tell the reader the grades, the need and the family situation. Write yours in plain language with your own facts. Exaggeration usually shows, and the foundation monitors beneficiaries after selection.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Names that do not match: a different spelling on the birth certificate, school ID and bank account can delay payment.
- Blurry uploads: a result slip nobody can read is as good as no result slip.
- Using someone else’s bank account: tertiary payments go to the student, so open an account in your own name before you apply.
- Applying in the last week of September: forms can be closed before the published date if the organisers have enough entries or need time to screen before the 7 October ceremony.
- Paying an agent: nobody can buy you a place. The form is free.
What happens after you apply
The foundation has not published a step-by-step timeline. Based on how past rounds ran, expect screening of results and documents during September, with the award ceremony at Iperu-Remo in early October. At launch, the organisers said school pupils were selected by the Ogun State Ministry of Education, Science and Technology using Cumulative Promotion Examination results on the OGSERA platform, and tertiary beneficiaries were recommended by their institutions. The online form has since opened the process to direct applications, so your school records still matter.
If you are selected, you will be invited to the ceremony or contacted through your school, and you get access to the GAF Beneficiary Portal for monitoring. Keep your grades up after the award, because continued support depends on it.
Costs the award will not fully cover
₦250,000 goes a long way at a state university but rarely covers a full year of living costs. Plan for these from other sources:
- Hostel or rent, transport and feeding.
- Higher tuition at private universities and some federal programmes, where ₦250,000 may cover only part of the fees.
- Laptops, practical kits and departmental dues.
- Costs of travelling to the award ceremony, if you are invited.
Similar scholarships for Ogun and South West students
| Scholarship | Main benefit | Who it targets |
|---|---|---|
| Gbemiga Abiodun Foundation | ₦50,000 to ₦250,000 plus materials | Ogun learners aged 6 to 25 in need |
| Nestlé Nigeria Community Scholarship | Tuition, books and school costs | Science students from Agbara, Sagamu and Abaji host communities |
| Ruth Titilayo Foundation Scholarship | Support at several levels | Secondary, undergraduate, postgraduate and vocational students |
| Ejiro M Ukiri Scholarship Fund | Up to ₦150,000 | SS3 leavers starting university |
Students from Sagamu can apply for both the Gbemiga Abiodun award and the Nestlé community scholarship if they meet each set of rules, since the two run separately.
Who should apply, and who should not
Apply if you or your child are from Ogun State, aged 6 to 25, in a public school or any tertiary institution, with good results and a real money problem. Parents of primary and secondary pupils in public schools should take this seriously, since few awards in Nigeria reach that age group.
I would not spend time on it if you have no Ogun link, are over 25, have a CGPA well below 3.5, or your family can comfortably pay fees. The award is built for indigent learners, and the monitoring after selection makes false claims easy to spot.
FAQ
How much is the Gbemiga Abiodun Foundation scholarship for university students?
₦250,000 for students in tertiary institutions, plus learning materials.
Can primary school pupils apply for the Gbemiga Abiodun scholarship?
Yes. Pupils in public primary schools aged 6 and above can be put forward by a parent or guardian, for ₦50,000 to ₦100,000 in support.
Do I have to be from Remo to apply?
The programme started in the three Remo LGAs, and the governor said in 2024 it would expand to the rest of Ogun State. The current listing asks for Ogun State indigenes.
When is the Gbemiga Abiodun Foundation scholarship deadline?
1 October 2027. In past years the awards were presented in early October.
Sources and updates
This post uses the 2026 call as listed by ScholarshipAir and Icanstudent for eligibility, amounts, documents, the form link and dates, The Guardian’s report on the October 2023 launch for the programme’s structure, selection and payment method, TheCable’s report on the October 2024 award ceremony, and FUNAAB’s news release on the October 2025 awards. The foundation has not published its form questions, renewal rules or a results timetable. Last checked 24 October 2026. I will update the dates when the 2027 call opens.
I am Jude Chinecherem, a final-year MBBS student at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. I know what it feels like to want an education your family cannot afford. When my parents could not pay for my schooling, I had to learn how to find scholarships and work the system out on my own, with nobody to guide me. I came out the other side, and now I share everything I learned so the next student does not have to figure it out alone. This is the advice I wish someone had given me back then.
