Chess in Slums Africa founder Tunde Onakoya has partnered with Jobs59 founder Sam Otigba and AltSchool Africa founder Sultan Akintunde, widely known as HackSultan, to launch a ₦250 million scholarship fund aimed at equipping National Youth Service Corps members and recent graduates with in demand technology skills. According to The Cable and Pulse, successful applicants will receive scholarships worth ₦160,000 each, comprising ₦10,000 for application fees and ₦150,000 towards tuition for selected AltSchool Africa diploma programmes. The initiative is open to serving corps members, prospective corps members and recent NYSC alumni, with applications covering fields including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, cloud engineering, data analysis, product management and digital marketing.
The scholarship package extends beyond tuition support to include career mentorship, portfolio development, internship opportunities from the sixth month of study, job placement assistance through Jobs59 and free laptops for selected beneficiaries. “That’s why Tunde Onakoya, HackSultan and I are launching a ₦250 million scholarship fund to help recent graduates gain real, in demand tech skills that lead to jobs,” Sam Otigba said while announcing the programme.
The initiative reflects growing private sector investment in Nigeria’s digital talent pipeline at a time when demand for technology professionals continues to outpace supply. For businesses, the programme addresses a critical skills gap by preparing more job ready professionals in high growth sectors, while supporting the country’s broader digital economy ambitions. By combining technical education with mentorship and employment pathways, the partners are creating a model that links workforce development directly to industry needs.
Looking ahead, the scholarship could expand opportunities for thousands of young Nigerians seeking careers in technology while strengthening the country’s pool of skilled digital talent. If widely adopted, similar public private initiatives could play an important role in reducing youth unemployment, improving workforce competitiveness and supporting Nigeria’s position as one of Africa’s leading technology ecosystems.
