September 9, 2025 – Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has advised beneficiaries of the National Scholarship Programme to develop skills beyond the classroom, stressing that academic excellence must be complemented with practical knowledge to support national development.
She gave the advice in Abuja on Tuesday during the National Scholarship Programme (NASP) Tertiary Education Mid-Term Assessment and Interactive Session with the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) Scholars.
According to her, education funding should go beyond financial aid, and students must cultivate extra skills and income streams to secure their future. “Scholarships are not just about numbers but about building lives with meaning. Beneficiaries must remain resourceful and resilient even after graduation. We cannot start a scholarship scheme and then abandon it midway. It is not about numbers; it is about raising good students we can mentor,” she said.
Tinubu explained that while the financial support was significant, students must add value by learning skills and earning extra income. “The money given is a lot, but that does not mean you should fold your arms. Add to it, acquire skills, earn extra, and think outside the box,” she said.
Encouraging beneficiaries not to despise small beginnings, she added, “Even if you start small, it is a business. Do not be ashamed. Rise up and do something extra. What we work for, we appreciate more.”
The First Lady announced that more than 5,500 students had benefitted from the programme, with 1,500 laptops provided and the third tranche of funds approved for disbursement within the week. She assured that even if political circumstances change, the scholarship scheme would not be abandoned.
She also commended the Minister of Education, Dr Morufu Alausa, and the Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Malam Kashifu Abdullahi, for their support.
The Wife of the Vice President, Hajiya Nana Shettima, in her goodwill message, praised Tinubu’s foresight and motherly role in championing educational support for Nigerian youths. She shared her personal experience of mentoring over 200 girls in her state and explained how an initial N5 million support inspired her to establish a learning centre.
Shettima encouraged beneficiaries to embrace mentorship, discipline, and self-development, while also exploring opportunities such as the National Student Loan to advance their education and professional careers. She urged wives of governors to sustain collaboration to nurture a generation of responsible, skilled, and innovative leaders for Nigeria’s future.
The Wife of the Imo State Governor, Mrs Chioma Uzodinma, who is also the National Secretary of the Renewed Hope Initiative, commended the programme. She recalled that the scholarship scheme was launched on August 26, 2023, with 47 indigent students awarded annual scholarships worth ₦1 billion for their full study duration.
She noted that beneficiaries had already received two tranches of funds in 2023 and 2024, maintaining a minimum GPA of 3.0 to remain eligible. She added that the third tranche of funds was being disbursed alongside new laptops donated by NITDA.
“We celebrate all our scholars for their dedication. Through this, we expand our shared commitment to empowering Nigerian youths through education,” Uzodinma said.
At the event, students received laptops and one million naira in financial support to aid their studies.