The Government of India has announced the availability of 250 fully-funded scholarships for qualified Nigerians under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Programme for the 2025–2026 academic year.

The announcement was made on Tuesday by Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through its spokesperson, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, who explained that the scholarships aim to enhance professional capacity in various fields. The ITEC Programme will run from April 2025 to March 2026.

According to the Ministry, these scholarships are open to Nigerian professionals who are employed in government and have a minimum of five years of relevant work experience. The High Commission of India in Abuja is overseeing the coordination of the programme.

Eligibility Criteria

Interested applicants must meet the following conditions:

– Be between the ages of 25 and 45.

– Have at least five years of experience in government service or a related field.

– Meet the academic qualifications required by the hosting institution for the course they wish to apply for.

– Not have previously benefited from any training sponsored by the Indian Government under the ITEC Programme.

Application Process

To apply for the scholarships, candidates are advised to follow these steps:

1. Visit the official ITEC website at www.itecgoi.in to view the available courses and complete the online application form.

2. Print the completed form and attach supporting documents, which include a nomination letter from their employer, an office ID card, an employment letter, passport data page, academic certificates, and a recent medical fitness report from a government-approved practitioner.

3. Submit the application package to the Ministry of Budget and National Planning in Abuja at least three months before the course start date.

4. The Ministry will forward the shortlisted applications to the High Commission of India in Abuja, along with necessary endorsements from the applicant’s employer.

5. Applicants will be notified via email regarding the status of their application and can track their application online.

A full list of the courses available for the 2025–2026 period can be accessed at www.itecgoi.in/upcoming_courses.

For further information on the terms and conditions, applicants are encouraged to visit www.itecgoi.in/terms.

The ITEC Programme is part of India’s long-standing commitment to South-South cooperation, offering training in areas such as information technology, agriculture, renewable energy, governance, and public administration to developing countries. (The Guardian)