Tunde Onakoya Launches ₦250m Tech Scholarship With Free Laptops for NYSC Members, Graduates – How to Apply

• Chess in Slums Africa founder, Tunde Onakoya, has partnered with Jobs59 founder, Sam Otigba, and AltSchool Africa founder, HackSultan, to launch a ₦250 million scholarship programme.

Chess in Slums Africa founder, Tunde Onakoya, has joined forces with Jobs59 founder, Sam Otigba, and AltSchool Africa founder, HackSultan, to launch a ₦250 million scholarship fund aimed at equipping NYSC corps members and recent graduates with in-demand technology skills.

The initiative is designed to help young Nigerians transition from school into the technology industry by providing financial support for professional training, career mentorship, internship opportunities and job placement assistance.

According to the organisers, successful applicants will receive scholarships worth ₦160,000 each to enrol in any diploma programme offered by AltSchool Africa.

The scholarship package includes ₦10,000 to cover the application fee and ₦150,000 toward tuition fees.

Announcing the initiative in a post on X on Thursday, Jobs59 founder Sam Otigba said the programme was created to help young Nigerians build practical skills that can lead to employment.

“We’re solving the Olodo uprising pandemic, one NYSC at a time. That’s our contribution to society.

“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,” Otigba wrote.

Who Can Apply?

The scholarship programme is open to:

• Current NYSC corps members.
• Prospective NYSC corps members.
• Recent NYSC alumni.

How to Apply

Interested applicants are required to:

1. Visit the NYSC to Tech Job Scholarship portal.
2. Complete the scholarship application form using their NYSC details.
3. Select their preferred AltSchool Africa diploma programme.
4. Submit the application for eligibility review.
5. Await admission guidance and scholarship support if selected.

Free Laptop Support

The organisers also announced a Laptop Scholarship Add-on for applicants who do not own a laptop.

Selected beneficiaries will receive laptops free of charge to enable them participate fully in the training programme.

They explained that laptop support requires a separate application after completing the scholarship registration process.

Available Diploma Programmes

Successful applicants can choose from any of the following diploma courses:

• AI-Powered Fullstack Engineering
• Cybersecurity
• Cloud Engineering
• Data Analysis
• Technical Product Management
• Digital Marketing Automation and Sales

The programmes are expected to last between nine and 12 months, with participants becoming eligible to apply for internship opportunities from the sixth month of training.

Career Support and Job Opportunities

Beyond technical training, beneficiaries will also receive internship opportunities, career mentorship, portfolio development guidance and job placement support through Jobs59.

Otigba said the initiative was designed to help young graduates turn their NYSC service year into a meaningful career opportunity.

“Beyond technical training, participants will also receive career support and internship/job opportunities through Jobs59.

“We also know that learning without a laptop is a major barrier, so we’ll be providing laptops to a select number of scholarship recipients through an additional application process,” he said.

Tunde Onakoya, who is supporting the programme as a youth development partner, said the initiative would focus on helping young Nigerians build discipline, resilience and practical career skills while preparing them for opportunities after completing the NYSC programme.