NIGERIA: FG Launches ₦50m ‘Next Moonshot’ Grant, Partners Google to Boost Student Innovation

By Ameenat Hamzat, Lagos, Nigeria 

The Federal Government has launched the Next Moonshot initiative, opening applications for the Student Venture Capital Grant (S-VCG), a new national scheme that offers up to ₦50 million in equity-free funding to student innovators in Nigerian tertiary institutions.

This was disclosed in a press statement issued by Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade at the Federal Ministry of Education, on Monday.

The initiative, announced by the Federal Ministry of Education, is designed to support student-driven solutions with strong potential for large-scale commercialisation. It forms part of the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda aimed at developing a new generation of innovation-focused entrepreneurs.

Speaking at the launch, the Minister of Education, Chief Dr. Tunji Alausa, described the scheme as a strategic investment in the country’s economic future. He said the President had mandated the Ministry to actively identify exceptional innovation emerging from universities and colleges.

The minister said: “The President has challenged us to look for the next Moonshot within our tertiary institutions. We are not just looking for projects; we are scouting for future Nigerian Unicorns whose roots will be planted right here in our universities and colleges. This is an equity-free seed investment in Nigeria’s future.”

According to the Ministry, the grant will support innovations across STEMIM fields, Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medical Sciences, and will be complemented by a full support system that includes incubation programmes, expert mentorship, and access to tools and resources needed to develop and scale startups.

A major feature of the initiative is a new partnership with Google. The Ministry disclosed that Google’s Gemini AI technology has been integrated into the S-VCG application portal to help evaluate submissions through custom-built automated agents designed to ensure fair and efficient review. All students who successfully submit a proposal will also receive a one-year Google Gemini Pro license and access to global-standard learning resources.

The Ministry said the partnership is intended to position Nigerian students at the forefront of global technology and innovation. It added that the goal is to equip young founders “with the very best tools available globally” as they begin their entrepreneurial journey.

The application portal for the grant is now open to all eligible students enrolled in accredited tertiary institutions across the country. Applicants are expected to submit proposals that demonstrate scalability, market relevance and the ability to address national or global challenges. Applications can be submitted through https://scvg.education.gov.ng.