UNIFEMGA Scholarship Fund 2026

Tuition isn’t usually the expense that breaks a Nigerian student’s budget; it’s the accumulation of smaller costs that never let up: textbooks every semester, transport to and from campus, feeding, project materials, the list never really ends. At Obafemi Awolowo University, a group of Muslim graduates decided to do something concrete about that accumulation rather than just talk about it, and the result is the UNIFEMGA Scholarship Fund.

Applications for the 2026 cycle closed on 10 April 2026, but the fund isn’t a one-off gesture; this year alone, it disbursed over ₦14.6 million across 140 OAU students, announced at its Reunion Conference in May 2026. If you’re a Muslim student at OAU in 200 level or above, this scholarship is worth understanding now, so you’re ready the moment the next cycle opens.

About the UNIFEMGA Scholarship Fund

UNIFEMGA, the Obafemi Awolowo University Muslim Graduates’ Association, started this scheme back in 2008 as an informal effort by alumni to help cover school fees for students struggling financially. Over more than fifteen years, it’s grown from occasional support into a structured annual scholarship programme with defined categories, a formal online application system, and long-term sponsorship arrangements that can follow a student through several years of their degree.

The fund exists for four stated purposes: supporting indigent Muslim students, improving academic performance, promoting scholarship generally, and increasing female representation in academia. It’s entirely alumni-funded, which is part of why the association treats its annual Reunion Conference, where 2026’s disbursement figures were announced, as a central event, since it’s where former beneficiaries and current donors meet face to face.

Undergraduate students can receive a grant of ₦100,000, while postgraduate students are eligible for a grant of ₦150,000. Moreover, the fund offers long-term sponsorship to support students throughout their entire academic journey, making it one of the most sustainable scholarship initiatives for Muslim students in Nigeria.

The scholarship is open to students at the 200 level and above, across all departments at Obafemi Awolowo University. Additionally, the fund particularly encourages female representation in academia, making it a progressive and inclusive initiative for all eligible Muslim students at OAU.

UNIFEMGA Scholarship Fund Summary

What the Scholarship Covers

• ₦100,000 for undergraduate beneficiaries under the Merit or Honors categories, paid as a direct grant rather than a fee-offset, so you decide how it’s used.
• ₦150,000 for postgraduate beneficiaries, reflecting the higher cost pressures postgraduate students typically face.
• Long-term sponsorship, not a strictly one-time payment — UNIFEMGA has described the programme running 4 to 5 years for some beneficiaries, depending on which chapter or individual sponsor is backing that student, so a first award can turn into support across your remaining years at OAU.
• Four distinct award categories, each with its own academic bar: Merit Scholarship at CGPA 3.50 and above, Honors Scholarship at CGPA 2.50 and above, a Physically Challenged category also at CGPA 2.50 and above, and a Health Sciences category set at 50% and above rather than CGPA, reflecting that programme’s different grading structure.
• Continued eligibility for returning beneficiaries, provided you maintain satisfactory academic progress. This isn’t a scholarship you win once and forget about; your standing gets reassessed each cycle.

One condition worth flagging clearly: you cannot hold this scholarship alongside any other scholarship programme at the time of application. If you’re already receiving support elsewhere, you’re not eligible for this one until that changes.

Eligibility Requirements

1. Be a Muslim student currently enrolled at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.

This is a strict, non-negotiable condition: the scholarship is funded and administered by OAU’s own Muslim alumni body specifically for the university’s current Muslim student population, so enrolment at any other institution, even one nearby, doesn’t qualify.

2. Be at the 200 level of study or above.

100-level students aren’t eligible under this cycle’s criteria, likely because the fund wants some existing academic record at OAU to assess before awarding support. A first-year student simply hasn’t generated the CGPA history the categories below require.

3. Not currently a beneficiary of any other scholarship programme.

UNIFEMGA is explicit that you cannot hold this alongside separate scholarship support elsewhere, so if you’re already receiving funding from another source, you’d need to wait until that support ends before applying here.

4. Fall into one of the three applicant categories UNIFEMGA recognises.

Fresh Applicants covers anyone who has never received the award before, including students reapplying after a previous unsuccessful attempt — a rejection in an earlier cycle doesn’t bar you from trying again. Returning Applicants covers previous beneficiaries reapplying for continued support, but this category comes with its own condition: you must show satisfactory academic progress since your last award, since UNIFEMGA reassesses your standing each cycle rather than treating a first award as guaranteed renewal.

5. Meet the CGPA or percentage threshold for your specific scholarship category.

The bar varies meaningfully depending on which category you fall under: 3.50 and above for Merit, 2.50 and above for either Honors or the Physically Challenged category, or 50% and above for Health Sciences students, whose programme uses a different grading structure than the CGPA system used elsewhere at OAU. Know your category before you apply, since applying under the wrong one could see you assessed against a threshold you don’t actually meet.

Beyond these formal requirements, the fund explicitly states it encourages female applicants, as part of its broader aim to strengthen women’s representation in academia. This isn’t just a passing mention in its founding aims; UNIFEMGA lists it alongside supporting indigent students and improving academic performance as one of the scheme’s core purposes.

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Documents You’ll Need to Prepare

The paperwork differs sharply depending on which applicant category you fall into, so check the right list before you start.

If you’re a Fresh Applicant, you’ll need:

• Your WAEC, SSCE, or NECO results, specifically whichever set was used for your original university admission
• Your JAMB result
• Your university admission letter
• A recent passport photograph
• Your latest academic transcript, this one is not uploaded online; you bring a physical or digital copy to present at the interview stage instead

If you’re a Returning Applicant:

• No documents are required for the online submission itself. UNIFEMGA states that your previous records are already held securely in their system from your earlier application.
• You’ll still need your latest academic transcript on hand for the interview, since that’s where your continued academic standing gets evaluated, regardless of applicant category.

The transcript requirement catches people out both ways. Fresh and returning applicants sometimes assume it’s needed for the online form, then scramble to get a copy the night before their interview. Request yours from your department early, since transcript processing at Nigerian universities can take longer than expected, especially close to exam periods.

Your Step-by-Step Process to Apply

1. Confirm you meet the general eligibility requirements — Muslim, enrolled at OAU, 200 level or above, and not currently receiving another scholarship.
2. Identify your applicant category — Fresh or Returning — since this determines your entire documentation path.
3. Identify your scholarship category based on your CGPA or percentage: Merit (3.50+), Honors (2.50+), Physically Challenged (2.50+), or Health Sciences (50%+).
4. If you’re a Fresh Applicant, gather your documents in advance — WAEC/SSCE/NECO results, JAMB result, admission letter, and passport photograph — rather than starting the online form before you have them ready.
5. Visit the official application portal at scholarship.unifemga.org once the new cycle opens, and complete the form with accurate CGPA and level details.
6. Submit before the stated deadline — for the 2026 cycle, this was 10 April, and late submissions were not accepted.
7. Prepare your latest academic transcript separately, since it’s presented at the interview stage rather than uploaded with your initial application.
8. Watch for communication from UNIFEMGA regarding your interview date, and treat that interview as a genuine evaluation stage, not a formality; your transcript and academic standing are assessed there directly.

Application Deadline

The 2026 cycle’s application window closed on 10 April 2026, and UNIFEMGA stated clearly that late entries would not be accepted. This fund doesn’t appear to run a rolling or extended-deadline model. Based on this year’s pattern, applications opened and were promoted from around March 2026 ahead of the April deadline, so the next cycle will likely follow a similar timeline in early 2027, though UNIFEMGA has not published a confirmed date yet.

The most useful thing you can do in the meantime is get your documentation in order now. Transcripts and admission letters take time to process through university administration, and CGPA thresholds are checked strictly against your category, so knowing exactly which category you’ll apply under Merit, Honors, Physically Challenged, or Health Sciences lets you prepare the right paperwork well before applications reopen, rather than figuring it out under deadline pressure.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the UNIFEMGA Scholarship Fund still accepting applications?

No. The 2026 cycle closed on 10 April 2026. UNIFEMGA runs this as an annual scheme, so a new cycle is expected, most likely opening in early 2027 based on this year’s timeline.

Can students outside Obafemi Awolowo University apply?

No. This scholarship is restricted specifically to Muslim students currently enrolled at OAU, Ile-Ife. Students at other Nigerian universities, including other institutions in Osun State, are not eligible.

Can 100-level students apply?

No. Eligibility starts from the 200 level and above. First-year students will need to wait until they progress to the 200 level before they can apply.

Can I apply if I’m already receiving another scholarship?

No. UNIFEMGA states that applicants must not be a beneficiary of any other scholarship programme at the time of application. You’d need to be free of other scholarship support to qualify here.

What happens during the interview stage?

Your latest academic transcript is evaluated at this stage, whether you’re a Fresh or Returning Applicant. It’s where UNIFEMGA verifies your academic standing directly, so treat it as a substantive part of the selection process rather than a final formality.

Disclaimer: All scholarship details, deadlines, award values, and eligibility criteria in this post were verified from official sources as of July 2026. Information is subject to change without notice. Always confirm the latest details directly on the official UNIFEMGA scholarship portal before submitting your application. ScholarWaka is not affiliated with UNIFEMGA or Obafemi Awolowo University.

Official Application Portal