The GOSEF scholarship (Gamaliel & Susan Onosode Scholarship Education Fund) pays tuition and approved study costs for Nigerian students in federal and state tertiary institutions who are doing very well academically but cannot afford to keep going. You need a CGPA of at least 4.50 out of 5.0, you must be 16 to 25, and the money goes straight to your school every session until you finish, as long as you keep meeting the criteria.
The 2026 round ran from 22 July to 14 August 2026 and winners were due to be announced in September. The deadline for the 2027 round is 14 August 2027. The form takes about 15 minutes, so the real work is getting your recommendation letter and proof of need ready before the call opens.
GOSEF scholarship at a glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Sponsor | Gamaliel & Susan Onosode Foundation (GAMSU) |
| Fund | Gamaliel & Susan Onosode Scholarship Education Fund (GOSEF) |
| Who it is for | Nigerian citizens living in Nigeria, in a public tertiary institution |
| Age | 16 to 25 |
| Minimum CGPA | 4.50 on a 5.0 scale |
| What it pays | Tuition plus approved study needs, paid to your institution each session |
| Duration | Renewed every year until graduation if you keep meeting the criteria |
| Number of awards | Not published |
| Deadline | 14 August 2027 |
| Where to apply | Google Form linked from onosodefoundation.org/gosef2026 (bit.ly/gosef2026) |
The foundation describes the fund’s aim as funding excellence in public education. That is why the bar is a first class CGPA and why private institutions are left out: the fund is built to keep top students in federal and state schools from dropping out for lack of money.
GOSEF scholarship key dates
| Stage | Date |
|---|---|
| Applications open | 22 July 2027 |
| Deadline | 14 August 2027 |
| Winners announced | September 2027 |
(based on this year’s date; confirm on the official page when the call opens). The 2026 window was only about three weeks long, so prepare your documents in June and July.
Short window
GOSEF applications stay open for roughly three weeks. If you wait for the call before asking a lecturer for a recommendation letter, you may run out of time. Applying is free. Never pay anyone who offers to submit, “fast track” or guarantee your application.
Who can apply for the GOSEF scholarship
- Nationality: Nigerian citizen who lives in Nigeria.
- Institution: enrolled in a public tertiary institution, federal or state. After School Africa lists federal universities, state universities and other accredited public tertiary institutions. Private universities are not covered.
- Age: 16 to 25.
- Grades: current CGPA of 4.50/5.0 or higher. That is first class territory on most Nigerian grading scales.
- Need: you need financial help to continue your studies, and you can show evidence of it.
All courses are eligible. If your school grades on a 4.0 or 7.0 scale, convert carefully and explain it on the form, since the published bar is stated on a 5.0 scale.
Eligibility edge cases
- 100 level students with no CGPA yet: the rule is a current CGPA, so a fresher with no university result does not meet it. Apply after your first session’s results.
- Polytechnic students: the foundation’s eligibility list says public tertiary institution, though its introduction mentions public universities. Many polytechnics grade on a 4.0 scale, so show your CGPA and the scale clearly and let the foundation judge the conversion.
- Age 25 near the deadline: the range is 16 to 25. If you turn 26 around the closing date, apply as early in the window as you can. The foundation has not said on which date age is measured.
- Nigerians studying or living abroad: excluded. You must live in Nigeria and attend a Nigerian public institution.
- Final-year students: not excluded in the wording, but a renewable award matters less if you graduate within months. Apply if your fees for the final session are unpaid.
- CGPA of 4.49: below the line. The foundation states 4.50 or higher.
Documents for the GOSEF scholarship
| Document | What to prepare |
|---|---|
| NIN | Your National Identification Number (keep the slip or a clear photo handy) |
| Recommendation letter | From a lecturer, HOD or level adviser who knows your work |
| Passport photograph | Recent, clear, plain background |
| Evidence of financial need | For example a letter explaining your family situation, a parent’s death certificate, proof of unpaid fees or a letter from a community or religious leader |
| Latest result | Your most recent semester or session result showing your CGPA |
The foundation asks for “evidence” of need without naming a fixed document, so the examples above are the kinds of proof other Nigerian scholarships accept. Send whatever shows your real situation. Our recommendation letter guide has samples you can show your lecturer.
No essay: how to make your documents do the talking
The GOSEF page lists no essay or personal statement. With a 4.50 bar, most applicants who pass screening will have similar grades, so the recommendation letter and your evidence of need are where you stand apart. Treat them with the care you would give an essay.
The recommendation letter
Ask a lecturer, level adviser or HOD who has taught you or seen your record. Give them a one-page note with your CGPA, your rank in class if you know it, any prizes, and a sentence on your financial situation. A useful letter confirms your grades, says something specific about your work (a project, a presentation, a test where you stood out) and states that the writer knows you need support. A general “this student is of good character” letter adds little.
The need letter
If you write your own letter explaining your family situation, keep it to one page, factual and signed. Say who pays your fees, what they do, how many dependants they have, what you owe your school now, and what you are doing to cope. A sample opening: “I am a 300 level Chemical Engineering student at the University of Benin with a CGPA of 4.68. My father, a retired primary school teacher, has not received his pension since 2025, and my mother’s provisions shop now pays for four children in school.” Facts first, feelings second. Attach anything that backs it up, such as a statement of unpaid fees from your bursary.
How to apply for the GOSEF scholarship
- Check eligibility: the form screens you first on citizenship, institution, age and CGPA. If you fail one, it stops you.
- Scan your documents: NIN, recommendation letter, passport photo, proof of need and latest result.
- Sign in to Google: you need a Google account to upload files on the form.
- Fill the form: open it from onosodefoundation.org/gosef2026 or go straight to the GOSEF Google Form. It takes about 15 minutes.
- Submit before 14 August 2027: then watch your email and phone through September for the results.
Before you start, put all five files in one folder on the device you will use, each named clearly (“NIN-Ese-Okoro.pdf”, “Result-Ese-Okoro.pdf”). Google Forms can lose your answers if the page reloads, so do it in one sitting on a stable connection. Take a screenshot of the confirmation page when you finish.
What happens after you apply
The foundation reviews your CGPA, then checks your financial need and documents. Successful students do not receive cash: tuition and approved study needs are paid to the institution each session. Renewal each year depends on you still meeting the criteria, so a CGPA that falls below 4.50 can put the award at risk.
The foundation has not published whether there is an interview, how many students it funds, or the exact date in September when results go out. If you are selected, expect the foundation to confirm your details with your school before paying.
Costs GOSEF may not cover
“Approved study needs” is not defined on the foundation’s page. Since payments go to your institution, anything your school does not bill, such as off-campus rent, feeding, transport and personal books, is likely to stay with you. Ask the foundation what counts as an approved need if you are selected.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Waiting for the call to open before asking for the recommendation letter.
- Uploading an old result instead of your latest one.
- Sending proof of need that does not actually show need, such as a school ID card.
- Rounding a 4.48 CGPA up to 4.50 on the form.
- Trying to fill the form without a Google account, then losing time on the last day.
Similar scholarships to compare
| Scholarship | Who it targets | Grade rule | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| GOSEF | Public tertiary students aged 16 to 25 | CGPA 4.50/5.0 | 14 August 2027 |
| Bridge Scholarship Program | Public university students, Year 1 to penultimate year | CGPA 3.5/5.0 | 12 September 2027 |
| SOHCAHTOA Foundation Scholarship | 200 level and above at public institutions, up to ₦250,000 | CGPA 3.5 | 30 August 2027 |
| Ibadan Descendants Union Scholarship | Ibadan natives in Nigerian higher institutions | 3.65/4.0 or 4.65/5.0 | 21 August 2027 |
If your CGPA is just under 4.50, look at the Carewave Aspire Scholarship for federal university students and the Gabriel Ezenri Foundation Scholarship.
Who should apply, and who should not
Apply if you are a Nigerian living in Nigeria, aged 16 to 25, at a federal or state institution, with a CGPA of 4.50 or more and a real risk of dropping out because of money. Because the award renews each year, it is most valuable to students in 200 or 300 level with several sessions still ahead.
Skip it if you are at a private university, over 25, studying abroad, still in your first semester without a CGPA, or below 4.50. The Bridge and SOHCAHTOA awards in the table have lower grade bars.
Contacting the foundation
Email info@onosodefoundation.org or call +234 802 777 0007. The office address on the foundation’s page is 44 Adelabu Street, Surulere, Lagos (P.O. Box 472, Lagos).
FAQ
Can private university students apply for the GOSEF scholarship?
No. GOSEF is only for students in public tertiary institutions, meaning federal or state schools.
What CGPA do I need for the GOSEF scholarship?
At least 4.50 on a 5.0 scale at the time you apply. You also need to keep meeting the criteria for the award to be renewed each year.
Is the GOSEF money paid to me?
No. Tuition and approved study needs are paid directly to your institution every academic session.
When is the GOSEF scholarship deadline?
The deadline is 14 August 2027. Expect the form to stay open for only about three weeks before that.
Sources and updates
This post uses the foundation’s own GOSEF 2026 page on onosodefoundation.org (rechecked on 24 October 2026) for eligibility, documents, benefits, dates and contact details, with the ScholarshipAir and After School Africa listings for the form link and eligible institution types. The foundation has not published the number of awards, a definition of approved study needs, an interview stage or the exact results date. I will update the dates when the 2027 call is posted.
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.
