Zeribe Nwosu Foundation AI and Data Science Scholarship 2026

There’s a specific figure worth knowing upfront that the original programme summary leaves out entirely: this scholarship awards ₦150,000 in direct cash support to successful applicants — a concrete number worth having in mind before anything else, since “fully funded” language elsewhere can obscure exactly what a scholarship actually pays.

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Run by the Zeribe Nwosu Foundation as one of four arms of its broader annual scholarship programme, this specific track — formally called ZNS AIDS, for Artificial Intelligence and Data Science — exists to identify and support Nigerian students building genuine skills in AI, machine learning, and data science, alongside their formal degree studies.

Applications for this cycle closed on 1 April 2026 at 11:59 pm Nigeria time, and results across the Foundation’s entire ZNS programme are announced every year on 1 August — meaning if you applied, your outcome is likely arriving within days of reading this. This guide covers exactly who qualifies, how genuinely competitive this scholarship actually is, what documents you need, and how to prepare for the next annual cycle.

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What the Zeribe Nwosu Foundation AI and Data Science Scholarship Involves

The Zeribe Nwosu Foundation, founded by Dr. Zeribe Nwosu and initiated on 1 January 2021, runs the broader Zeribe Nwosu Scholarship (ZNS) programme with a stated belief that investing in education is essential to solving society’s biggest challenges.

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ZNS runs four distinct arms each year: a Secondary School to Undergraduate Transition scholarship, an Undergraduate to Postgraduate Transition scholarship (the Foundation’s main, flagship award), an Online Learning scholarship reserved specifically for women, and the Artificial Intelligence and Data Science scholarship (ZNS AIDS) covered here, launched in 2024 and led by Dr. Simeon Eche, based in the USA.

ZNS AIDS specifically exists to identify and support students building practical skills in AI, data science, machine learning, and related technologies — fields the Foundation regards as critical to Nigeria’s future tech workforce, alongside whatever formal degree programme a student is already pursuing.

Zeribe Nwosu Foundation AI and Data Science Scholarship Summary

Just How Competitive This Scholarship Actually Is

Worth knowing before you apply, since it shapes how seriously to treat every part of your submission: the Zeribe Nwosu Foundation is explicit that its ZNS programme overall is genuinely rigorous and highly competitive.

As one concrete example the Foundation itself has shared, its 2022 Undergraduate to Postgraduate Transition category received roughly 85 applications for just 5 funding slots, with more than a quarter of those applicants on track to graduate with First Class degrees from some of Nigeria’s most selective universities.

While ZNS AIDS is a separate, newer category launched in 2024, this gives a genuine sense of the calibre of applicant pool the Foundation attracts across its programme as a whole — and the Foundation states plainly that it’s building a scholarship rigorous enough to match the most prestigious programmes anywhere in the world.

What Makes You Eligible for This Scholarship

• You need to be a current student or recent graduate of a Nigerian university or polytechnic, public or private
• You need to be in your 4th year of undergraduate study or beyond, or no more than one year past your project defence or graduation
• You need a minimum CGPA of 3.5 on a 5.0 scale, based on your results from years 1 through 3 — or an accepted equivalent, such as 2.8 on a 4.0 scale, roughly translating to around 70%
• If you’re a medical student specifically, you submit your Year 1 results alongside evidence of achieving “Pass” for subjects taken in Years 2 and 3, reflecting how medical degree grading typically differs from standard university systems
• If you’ve already graduated, you need a final CGPA of at least 3.0 on the 5.0 scale, or a rough equivalent of around 60%
• You need genuine, demonstrated interest in AI or data science, supported by your academic background or practical project work
• There’s no strict restriction on your specific field of study, but the Foundation expects to see a real portfolio or relevant project experience backing up your interest, not simply a stated aspiration

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What the Zeribe Nwosu Foundation AI and Data Science Scholarship Covers

The Zeribe Nwosu Scholarship on Artificial Intelligence and Data Science (ZNS AIDS)—administered by the Zeribe Nwosu Foundation (ZNF)—delivers a targeted financial and professional enablement package engineered to foster technological capacity among high-performing Nigerian undergraduates and recent graduates:

• ₦150,000 Direct Cash Award:
  • Direct Educational Support: A non-repayable cash grant of ₦150,000 disbursed directly to each selected scholar as a one-time award.
  • Skill Development Funding: The funds are specifically designed to help scholars ease general academic costs, cover examination fees, subscribe to specialized data tools, purchase software licenses, or enroll in professional certifications across artificial intelligence, machine learning, deep learning, and data analytics.
• Prestigious ZNS Ambassador Designation:
  • Official Credentials: Recipients are formally inducted as ZNS Ambassadors/Awardees, adding a recognized credential to their academic profiles, LinkedIn accounts, and professional resumes.
  • Academic Recognition: Public celebration across Zeribe Nwosu Foundation media platforms, showcasing awardees to international academic networks, industry partners, and global research communities.
• Access to Training, Certifications & Industry Mentorship:
  • Technical Skill Upskilling: Priority access to structured data science and AI training modules, workshops, and discounted or sponsored certification tracks.
  • Expert Mentorship Pipeline: Direct connection with seasoned industry professionals, research scientists, and international mentors within the global ZNF academic network for career guidance and post-graduation opportunities.

Required Documents

To compete for the ZNS AI and Data Science Scholarship, candidates must prepare and upload a complete digital application package. All documents must be cleanly formatted and merged into a single file as required by the application portal:

• 1. Typed Personal Statement (1 Page):
  • Core Content: Must clearly articulate your passion for technology, your current academic journey, and how you plan to leverage AI and data science to solve real-world problems.
• 2. Professional Curriculum Vitae (1–2 Pages):
  • Mandatory Technical Section: The CV must feature a dedicated section explicitly listing all AI, data science, and analytical tools you have utilized or developed (e.g., Python, R, SQL, TensorFlow, PyTorch, Power BI, Tableau, Pandas).
• 3. Statement of Financial Need (100 to 200 Words):
• 4. Practical AI / Data Science Work Portfolio:
  • Accepted Formats & Outputs: Candidates may present their portfolio in any structured digital format demonstrating hands-on technical competence. Common inclusions comprise:
    • Live GitHub profile links showcasing clean, well-documented code repositories.
    • Links to interactive Data Analytics Dashboards (e.g., Power BI, Tableau, Streamlit).
    • Deployed software applications, web tools, machine learning models, or database systems.
    • Published research papers, technical articles, or data-driven blog posts.
• 5. Official Letter of Recommendation (1–2 Pages):
• 6. Unofficial Academic Transcripts & Proof of Enrollment:.

What the Application Process Requires

1. Visit the official ZNS application portal directly through the Zeribe Nwosu Foundation’s website
2. Complete the online application form in full
3. Upload every required document as specified — your personal statement, CV, transcripts, statement of financial need, portfolio, and recommendation letter
4. Review your application carefully for accuracy and completeness before submitting, since incomplete submissions may not be considered
5. Submit before the deadline — for this cycle, 1 April 2026 at 11:59pm Nigeria time
6. Apply under this single ZNS AIDS category only, rather than spreading your application across multiple ZNS categories simultaneously, since doing so risks disqualification for this specific award

Application Timeline

• Application deadline: 1 April 2026, 11:59 pm Nigeria time — now closed
• Results announced: The Foundation’s own established pattern across the entire ZNS programme is to open applications every 1 January and announce awardees every 1 August — meaning outcomes for this cycle are landing right around now, or within days
• Next expected cycle: Based on this consistent annual structure, expect the 2027 ZNS AIDS call to open on 1 January 2027, with a deadline likely falling again around early April 2027

What to Do Before the Next Cycle Opens

• Start building a genuine, documented portfolio of AI or data science work now — coursework projects, personal projects, online course completions, or competition entries — since this is one of the Foundation’s core evaluation criteria, not a formality
• Draft your statement of financial need honestly and specifically, since the Foundation states this is weighted seriously alongside academic merit, not treated as secondary information
• Identify a strong recommender early, ideally someone who can speak specifically to both your academic capability and your genuine interest and effort in AI or data science
• Confirm your CGPA meets the specific threshold for your circumstances — 3.5/5.0 for current students, or 3.0/5.0 if you’ve already graduated — well before the January application window opens
• Apply only under this single category if AI and Data Science is genuinely your strongest fit, rather than risking disqualification by applying across multiple ZNS categories simultaneously

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the ZNF AI and Data Science Scholarship still accepting 2026 applications?

No. The deadline was 1 April 2026, 11:59 pm Nigeria time. Results across the Foundation’s entire ZNS programme are announced every 1 August, so outcomes for this cycle should be arriving right around now.

How much money does this scholarship actually provide?

₦150,000, paid as a one-time cash award to successful applicants.

Can I apply to multiple ZNS categories at once?

For this specific AI and Data Science category, applicants are encouraged to apply under only one scholarship category to avoid disqualification, even though the Foundation’s broader ZNS programme does allow eligible students to apply across categories in some cases — check current guidance for the specific category you’re targeting.

Is this scholarship only for computer science or engineering students?

No. There’s no strict field-of-study restriction, but the Foundation does expect to see a genuine portfolio or relevant project experience in AI or data science, regardless of your formal degree subject.

Is there really no application fee?

Correct. There’s no application fee at any stage of this scholarship, specifically to keep it accessible to students from a genuinely wide range of financial backgrounds.

Disclaimer: All scholarship details and figures in this post are verified from official Zeribe Nwosu Foundation sources as of July 2026. Information is subject to change without notice. Always confirm the latest details directly on the official Zeribe Nwosu Foundation scholarship page or by contacting [email protected]. ScholarWaka is not affiliated with the Zeribe Nwosu Foundation.

Official Application Portal