APPLY: Onakoya, Otigba, HackSultan Launch ₦250m Scholarship for NYSC Members and Graduates

*Initiative to fund 1,500+ tech diplomas at AltSchool Africa with mentorship, internships, and laptops*

Chess in Slums Africa founder Tunde Onakoya, Jobs59 founder Sam Otigba, and AltSchool Africa founder Adewale “HackSultan” Yusuf have launched a ₦250 million scholarship fund to help National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members and recent graduates acquire in-demand technology skills.

The “NYSC to Tech Jobs Scholarship” will award ₦160,000 scholarships to successful applicants, covering diploma programmes at AltSchool Africa. Beneficiaries will also receive career mentorship, internship opportunities, job placement support, and selected applicants will qualify for free laptops.

According to the organisers, the programme is designed to equip young Nigerians with practical digital skills that improve their chances of securing employment during and after NYSC.

*Scholarship Benefits*

Each successful applicant will receive support worth ₦160,000, broken down as:

– *₦10,000* towards the application fee

– *₦150,000* towards tuition fees

– *Career mentorship* and portfolio development

– *Internship opportunities* starting from month 6 of study

– *Job placement support* through Jobs59

– *Opportunity to apply* for a free laptop (selected beneficiaries only)

*Who Can Apply*

The scholarship is open to:

1. Current NYSC corps members

2. Prospective NYSC corps members 

3. Recent NYSC alumni

*Available Diploma Programmes*

Applicants can enrol in any of the following 9–12 month programmes at AltSchool Africa:

– *AI-Powered Fullstack Engineering*

– *Cybersecurity*

– *Cloud Engineering* 

– *Data Analysis*

– *Technical Product Management*

– *Digital Marketing Automation and Sales*

Participants become eligible to apply for internships from the sixth month of study.

*Laptop Support*

Applicants who do not own a laptop can apply for the “Laptop Scholarship Add-on.”  

Selected beneficiaries will receive free laptops to support their learning. The organisers noted that laptop support requires a separate application after completing the main scholarship application.

*Career Support*

Beyond tuition, beneficiaries will get:

– Direct internship placements

– Job placement assistance through Jobs59’s employer network

– 1-on-1 career mentorship 

– Portfolio and LinkedIn profile development

The organisers said the initiative aims to help young graduates transform their NYSC year into a pathway to sustainable careers in the technology sector.

*How to Apply*

Interested applicants should:

1. Visit the NYSC to Tech Jobs Scholarship Portal

2. Complete the application form using NYSC details

3. Select preferred AltSchool Africa diploma programme  

4. Submit for eligibility review

5. Successful applicants will receive admission guidance and scholarship support

*”Turning Service Year into Career Launchpad”*

Speaking on the initiative, Jobs59 founder Sam Otigba said the scholarship was created to equip young graduates with practical technology skills that are in high demand.

“Beyond technical training, beneficiaries will receive career support, internship opportunities and access to employment through Jobs59, while selected applicants will also benefit from free laptops,” he said.

Chess in Slums Africa founder Tunde Onakoya said the programme is designed to help young Nigerians develop discipline, resilience and practical career skills that will prepare them for opportunities beyond NYSC.

“This is about giving young people the tools to build a future for themselves, whether they are in camp, in service, or just finished,” Onakoya added.