A non-governmental organisation, Oma Life Rescue Foundation (OLIRF), has announced plans to award scholarships to one million Nigerian students over the next 10 years, through its initiative, ‘A million dream educational scholarship project.’

Founder and Chief Executive Officer of OLIRF, Dr Omanibe Ameh-Sanusi, explained that the programme is designed as a 10-year national learning intervention to expand access to quality learning for brilliant, but financially disadvantaged children and young people across the country.

The group, in a statement ahead of the official launch of the initiative, scheduled for July 27 in Abuja, said the foundation, in collaboration with institutional and development partners, will support 100,000 beneficiaries from 2026 to 2036.

Ameh-Sanusi noted that the scholarship structure allocates 30 per cent to pupils in primary and junior secondary; 50 per cent to senior secondary, and 20 per cent to undergraduates.

She disclosed that priority will be given to outstanding indigent students, orphans and vulnerable children, and young people who demonstrate discipline, character and exceptional academic potential.

She clarified that the larger allocation to senior secondary school students reflects the transition stage into tertiary education, where many gifted students are unable to continue due to financial limitations.

“Our goal is to ensure that no brilliant child loses the opportunity to pursue higher education simply because of poverty,” she said.

While the scholarship remains open to students across various disciplines, Ameh-Sanusi said the priority areas include medicine, nursing, law, engineering, information technology, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, pharmaceutical sciences, accounting, healthcare, agriculture, renewable energy and other strategic professions.

She noted that academic excellence remains one of the principal selection criteria, while the scholarship will cover beneficiaries throughout the 10-year period, subject to the scholarship guidelines and satisfactory academic performance.

The OLIRF boss disclosed that the scholarship award is N100,000 per beneficiary and forms part of a broader support framework with partner institutions.

She said the foundation is collaborating with universities and educational institutions across the six geopolitical zones, many of which have agreed to provide tuition concessions and other forms of institutional support for beneficiaries, thereby reducing the financial burden on students.

According to her, the programme will be reviewed at the end of the 10-year period, after which partners may decide to extend it based on impact and success.