The North-West Development Commission (NWDC) has announced the opening of applications for the 2025/2026 Undergraduate and Postgraduate Foreign Scholarship. This scholarship is exclusively for candidates from the North-West zone of Nigeria, encompassing states such as Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, and Zamfara. The scholarship program aims to foster academic excellence and empower individuals from the region to pursue studies at reputable foreign universities.

The NWDC Scholarship Scheme offers awards for Undergraduate, Master's, and Ph.D. studies. The application process commenced on May 5, 2025, and is entirely free. To qualify, applicants must meet specific criteria:

Eligibility Criteria:

• Indigene Status: Applicants must be from one of the North-West states.
• Undergraduate: Requires 5 O'Level credits, including English, Mathematics, Biology, Physics, and Chemistry.
• Master's: Requires a minimum of a Second Class Upper in the first degree.
• PhD: Requires a minimum CGPA of 4.00 in the Master's Degree.
• Age Limit: Undergraduate and Master's applicants must be 35 years or younger, while PhD applicants must be 40 years or younger at the time of application.

Required Documents:

Interested candidates must submit the following documents:

1. Curriculum Vitae (CV)
2. Primary Certificate
3. Bachelor's Degree Certificate
4. LGA and State Indigene Certificates
5. NYSC Discharge Certificate/Exemption Letter
6. International Passport
7. Birth Certificate/Declaration of Age
8. Secondary Certificate (WAEC/NECO)
9. Master's Degree Certificate (for PhD applicants)
10. Official Transcript
11. Letter of Motivation

For more detailed information and application procedures, candidates are advised to visit www.nwdc.gov.ng/scholarships.

In addition to the NWDC scholarship, applications for the 2025/26 Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarship are also open in Nigeria. This scholarship, funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), enables talented individuals to access training and skills necessary for sustainable development. It supports part-time Master’s studies with UK universities while students remain in their home countries.

Eligibility for Commonwealth Scholarship:

• Must be a citizen or permanent resident of a Commonwealth country.
• Must possess an undergraduate degree of at least upper second class (2:1).
• Must demonstrate an inability to afford the program without the scholarship.

Participating UK universities will select candidates based on academic merit and the potential impact of their work on their home country's development. While an IELTS test is not mandatory, universities may require proof of English proficiency. Applications must be submitted through the CSC portal.