The Jim Ovia Scholarship was founded and funded by Mr. Jim Ovia in 1998, to provide financial aid to outstanding Nigerian youths.

The scholarship was previously known as the MUSTE scholarship. The awardees are given funding for undergraduate study for the duration of the undergraduate program.

The award includes tuition and maintenance allowance. The scheme offers an average of 100 opportunities every year. The Financial records show that as of October 2010, Mr. Ovia has invested 100 Million Naira in the program on 1500 beneficiaries.

SEE ALSO: Scholarships for Nigerian Students

Jim Ovia Scholarship Goals.

• To promote access to tertiary education
• To invest in the future leaders of Nigeria
• To provide a platform that encourages competitiveness  and  promotes equal opportunities in workplace
• To bridge the knowledge gap among Nigerian Youth

Jim Ovia Scholarship Benefits.

Beneficiaries of the Jim Ovia scholarship receive an annual award of 150,000 Nigerian Naira, renewable for up to the entire duration of the beneficiary’s educational tenure.

Take note that awards are not automatically renewed annually. Students who have previously been awarded the Jim Ovia Scholarship must fill-out a renewal application online to re-apply.

Incomplete or non-submission of the required documentation, unverifiable or forged documents will automatically disqualify you for the scholarship.

Jim Ovia Scholarship Eligibility and Criteria.

1. You MUST NOT USE AN AGENT to fill out or apply or submit an application
2. There is NO PAYMENT REQUIRED to submit an application. Paying an agent is at your own risk and does not guarantee a scholarship award
3. You are only allowed to make only ONE SUBMISSION per applicant. Multiple entries will be disqualified
4. FALSIFYING or FORGING documents will automatically disqualify you
5. Applicant MUST have completed senior secondary school
6. Applicants MUST have gained admission into an undergraduate Nigerian University and provide proof of admission
7. Applicant MUST have a minimum of five credits in the O/level and will be required to submit a certificate of proof
8. Candidate’s age MUST not be less than 16 years at time of application
9. There are no restrictions to the course or program of study for applicants
10. Make sure to provide a reliable means of contact as the email and phone number you enter in this form will be used to contact you
11. You MUST provide an email address that has your firstname and lastname in it. Email  MUST be a Gmail or Yahoo account
12. All uploaded scanned documents must be clear and legible, unclear documents will be rejected
13. You may print the form for your own record before clicking on submit
14. Submitting an application does not guarantee an award of the Jim Ovia scholarship
15. There is no need to contact the Foundation once you have submitted your application. Those who meet the selection criteria will be shortlisted and contacted by the foundation
16. Ensure that you enter all information accurately and click submit

How to Apply for Jim Ovia Scholarship.

Interested candidates who meet the criteria listed above should apply by clicking on the respective link below:

• New Applicants should APPLY HERE
• Returning Applicants should APPLY HERE
• To visit the official website, CLICK HERE.

PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING CAREFULLY!!!

1. Ensure all details are correct before submitting your form. Kindly note that you will not be able to edit any submitted form.

2. Submitting a wrong document automatically disqualifies the applicant.

3. Providing any forged document or false information will lead to the applicant being blacklisted from applying in the future

CLOSING DATE: Scholarship application is open from now on till 28th November, 2025 at midnight.

Frequently Asked Questions

i.  What is the Jim Ovia Scholars Program

The Jim Ovia Scholars Program is a national initiative to educate and develop next-generation leaders who will contribute to social and economic progress of Nigeria. The Program enables Nigerian youths from economically disadvantaged communities to complete a quality tertiary education, and make successful transitions to further education or to the workforce in Nigeria.

ii.  Who is a Jim Ovia Scholar?

A Jim Ovia scholar is any individual that has benefitted or was awarded a Jim Ovia Scholarship as financial support for the purpose of completing his/her undergraduate tertiary education.

iii.  Who can apply?

UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS

The Jim Ovia Scholars program for undergraduate level students is open to matriculated full-time University/College applicants who are residents and citizens of Nigeria. This program aims to support academically qualified, yet economically disadvantaged, youths in Nigeria who will contribute to the transformation of the future of the country.

GRADUATE STUDENTS

The Jim Ovia Scholars program for Masters and Ph.D level students is currently closed for applications.

iv.  How do I apply to the Jim Ovia’s Scholar’s Program?

Please note that all applications to the Jim Ovia scholars Program is only accepted online. Handwritten applications and verbal referrals are not acceptable.

Please VISIT THE HOME PAGE and follow the prompt at the bottom of the page for New Beneficiaries and Returning Beneficiaries, accordingly. All applicants must complete their application online on our website in order to be considered for the scholarship. No applications will be accepted via mail or hand-delivered. We will not accept phone calls regarding applications. All inquiries must be made via email and sent to [email protected]. 

You can check the status of your application online in your Jim Ovia Scholars Account.

v.  How much do the Jim Ovia scholarship awards come to?

Beneficiaries of the Jim Ovia scholarship receive an annual award of 150,000 Nigerian Naira, renewable for up to the entire duration of the beneficiary’s educational tenure. Take note that awards are not automatically renewed annually. Students who have previously been awarded the Jim Ovia Scholarship must fill-out a renewal application online to re-apply.

Incomplete or non-submission of the required documentation, unverifiable or forged documents will automatically disqualify you for the scholarship.

vi.  How many awards are available each year?

There are 100 new scholarships available for award each year. All eligible renewing applicants who meet the renewal scholar’s criteria will be re-awarded a renewal scholarship.

vii.  When is the deadline to apply?

The current application portal is open froNovember 18th, 2024, to November 24th, 2024, at midnight

viii.  Can I still apply after the deadline?

Application deadlines are firm. Once the deadline has elapsed, no more applications will be accepted. You will have to wait till the next award year to apply. 

viii.  Can I apply through an agent?

The Jim Ovia Scholarship is wholly and solely run by the Jim Ovia Foundation. Any organisation purporting to assist you with applications are not affiliated with us.

Upon discovery that your submission was made through an “agent”, you would be blacklisted from the Scholarship programme.

ix. Once a Beneficiary, always a Beneficiary?

No. 

When awarded the Jim Ovia Scholarship, a beneficiary must reapply annually by filling out the Scholarship Renewal Application and submiting all supporting documents reflecting continued enrolment at host institution, satisfactory grade point avaerage, and identification documents. The scholarship board will then proceed to review and re-verify your status with your school along with other supporting documents in order to re-award you the scholarship.

x.  Are there any fees payable to the Jim Ovia Foundation to submit an application?

 We do not collect any application fees. All applications are free. Please report any persons or organizations alleging to collect fees on our behalf to us at [email protected]. Note that paying to submit an application is a waste of your resources and you would end up blacklisted.

xi.  What documentation is required for my application?

The following documents are required to submit a full application for a New or Renewal Scholarship Award. Please note that all scanned copies must be of the original document, photocopied scans will not be accepted.

New Applicant’s documentation:

a)    Completed online application

b)    Valid Government ID (e.g. International passport, Voter’s Card, National ID or Driver’s License)

Please note that a certificate of origin or birth certificate will not be accepted as a valid form of ID. The only exception will be for minors below the age of 18 years who are unable to apply for a government ID. In which case, a birth certificate will be accepted in lieu of a government ID for such minors.

c)    An official original letter (not photocopied) letter from your school/Head of Department stating the following:

• Your full-name
• Course Title
• Department of Study
• CGPA
• Gender
• Matriculation number

OR

• Newly matriculated who have not yet received a matriculation number or school ID must provide a provisional admission letter to their institution of study.

d)    Original Secondary School Certificate (WAEC or NECO)

e)    Original JAMB result certificate

f)     A valid student ID for your host institution (University/College)

g)    A passport photograph

Renewing Applicant’s documentation:

a)    Completed online application

b)    Valid Government ID (e.g. International passport, Voter’s Card, National ID or Driver’s License)

Please note that a certificate of origin or birth certificate will not be accepted as a valid form of ID. The only exception will be for minors below the age of 18 years who are unable to apply for a government ID. In which case, a birth certificate will be accepted in lieu of a government ID for such minors.

c)    An official original letter (not photocopied) letter from your school/Head of Department stating the following:

• Your full-name
• Course Title
• Department of Study
• CGPA
• Gender
• Matriculation number

d)    A valid student ID for your host institution (University/College)

e)    A passport photograph

f)     The most recent CGPA result slip (signed and stamped by the HOD or from the ICT centre)

xii.  Will my documentation be verified?

All submitted documents will be verified by the scholarship selection committee. Applicants found to have submitted false information or unverifiable or forged documents will no longer be eligible to apply for the Jim Ovia Scholars Program.

xiii.  What are the guidelines for filling out the Jim Ovia Scholarship applications?

Complete application instructions will be available on each application form. To access the scholarship application, you have to first of all open a Jim Ovia Scholars Account. Once you open your account, application forms will become available to you between the months of October and December (see article vii above)  in your scholars account. If you would like further guidance on filling out the application, read more on our Scholarship Application Guide. 

xiv.  What happens after I submit my application?

All submitted applications will be reviewed and processed in the order in which they are received. All short-listed candidates will be contacted on the next step in the process. Ensure that all contact details you submitted are accurate and reliable. There is no need to contact us once you submit an application. Remember that you can always check the status of your application in your Jim Ovia Scholars Account.

xv.  How long before shortlisted candidates are contacted?

Every application is carefully reviewed by a designated scholarship committee. For the most part, decisions on finalists will be communicated as soon as a decision in made. The review process can take up to 20 weeks. You can check back from time to time in your Jim Ovia Scholars Account for updates on your submission by clicking on the ‘submitted applications’ tab underneath your profile picture in your account.

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