Grooming Centre Nigeria, a microfinance institution, has opened its application portal for the 2026 university research grant scheme.

The Initiative targets students in both public and private tertiary institutions nationwide.

Launched in 2019 as a corporate social responsibility initiative with just 25 beneficiaries, the scheme has grown steadily.

Over the past seven years, it has supported a total of 659 students across Higher National Diploma (HND), undergraduate, Master’s, and doctoral degree levels.

Speaking at a press conference in Lagos to announce this year’s edition, the Head of Corporate Communications at Grooming Centre, Mrs Joyce Ofua, stated that the non-refundable grant aims to boost evidence-based research in critical economic areas.

These focus areas include financial inclusion, microfinance, rural development, social enterprise, MSMEs, technological development, digital financial innovation, youth development, and women empowerment.

Projects must centre on sectors aimed at lifting people out of poverty.

“The research proposals must be relevant to the Nigerian context, demonstrate practical innovation, and promote our specified areas of interest,” Mrs. Ofua noted. “The institution recognizes that many Nigerian university students want to execute problem-solving research that impacts the economy but lack financial backing. This grant bridges that gap.”

A total of 150 students—100 undergraduates and 50 postgraduates—will benefit from the 2026 cohort. Undergraduate beneficiaries will receive N100,000 each, while postgraduates will receive N200,000. Both categories will be paid in two tranches. The deadline for submission is 23 October 2026, and the grants will be presented on 26 November 2026.

Reviewing past editions, the Head of People and Capability, Mr Egulefu Chikezie, explained that despite a rising volume of annual applications, the Centre often falls short of its target beneficiary count because many applicants fail to meet the qualification benchmarks. For instance, outside of 2024 when the full 150 slots were filled, only 116 students (77.3 per cent of the target) qualified during the previous cycle.

However, Mr Chikezie disclosed that the Centre was considering increasing the monetary value of the grants in the near future to cushion the impact of national inflation and maximise economic relevance. He urged students to submit their applications promptly through the dedicated website.

Providing details on the application guidelines, Mr Clifford Onyeike, Chief Operating Officer of Crème Consulting—the firm managing the scheme—emphasised the need for originality and data-driven insights.

Eligible applicants must be final-year students in government-approved tertiary institutions. They must also submit a written recommendation letter from their project supervisor or Head of Department.

Proposals must range between 10 and 20 pages, covering an introduction, literature review, research questions, objectives, methodology, and the candidate’s profile. Beneficiaries must submit their final completed projects before the final 40 per cent tranche of the grant is disbursed. (Nigerian Tribune)