Scholarship and Student Loan Navigator
School fees, books and examination fees for 60 students for 2 years, and help for hundreds more to claim scholarships and NELFUND student loans.
Why we are doing this
- 10.2 million children in Nigeria are out of school. (UNICEF, November 2025)
- WAEC and NECO fees rise to ₦50,000 per candidate from 2027, up from ₦27,000 for WAEC and ₦30,000 for NECO. (Federal Ministry of Education, June 2026)
- NELFUND has processed 1,659,853 applications and paid out ₦372.62 billion in student loans, but only students in public tertiary institutions can apply, and the forms and deadlines are hard for many families to follow. (NELFUND, October 2026)
- NELFUND, state bursaries and company scholarships help students in tertiary education. (NELFUND, October 2026)
- Individuals, churches, mosques and NGOs pay fees for students they know, often one term at a time.
Help exists but it is scattered. Secondary school students are not covered by NELFUND, and many drop out over levies, books or examination fees. Families who could get a scholarship or loan often miss out because nobody helps them apply. The Navigator pays fees directly to schools for students most at risk, follows each scholar every term and helps others claim support that is already theirs.
What will change
Over 24 months, from January 2027 to December 2028:
- 60 scholars, 10 in each state, stay in school for 2 years with fees, levies, uniforms, books and stationery paid
- 30 scholars in SS3 have their WAEC or NECO fees and JAMB registration paid
- Fees are paid directly to schools, never in cash, and every payment is checked
- 24 scholarship and student loan clinics, 4 in each state, reaching 1,200 students and youths
- 300 young people helped to complete NELFUND or scholarship applications
- At least 95% of scholars are still in school at the end of each year
From 2027 a single examination fee rises to ₦50,000, more than many families earn in a month. Students in SS2 today will face that cost in 2027 and 2028. Without help now, bright students will leave school just before the finish line.
Budget
Set out in the cost categories used by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and most institutional funders.
| Cost category | Amount | Share |
|---|---|---|
| A. Staff costs | ₦1,920,000 | 7% |
| B. Activity costs | ₦20,520,000 | 74% |
| C. Travel and transport | ₦1,500,000 | 5% |
| D. Materials and equipment | ₦300,000 | 1% |
| E. Monitoring, evaluation and learning | ₦500,000 | 2% |
| F. Communications and visibility | ₦300,000 | 1% |
| G. Indirect costs | ₦2,504,000 | 9% |
| Total | ₦27,544,000 | 100% |
See every budget line
| Budget line | Unit | Quantity | Unit cost | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A. Staff costs | ||||
| WEG Social Worker, scholar case manager (30% of time) | month | 24 | ₦60,000 | ₦1,440,000 |
| Financial Officer, fee payments and checks (10% of time) | month | 24 | ₦20,000 | ₦480,000 |
| Subtotal A | ₦1,920,000 | |||
| B. Activity costs | ||||
| School fees and levies, paid directly to schools | scholar year | 120 | ₦80,000 | ₦9,600,000 |
| Uniforms, shoes and school bags | scholar year | 120 | ₦25,000 | ₦3,000,000 |
| Textbooks and stationery | scholar year | 120 | ₦30,000 | ₦3,600,000 |
| WAEC or NECO exam fees for scholars in SS3 | scholar | 30 | ₦50,000 | ₦1,500,000 |
| JAMB registration for scholars in SS3 | scholar | 30 | ₦10,000 | ₦300,000 |
| Scholar selection: needs assessment and home visits | scholar | 60 | ₦10,000 | ₦600,000 |
| Scholarship and student loan clinics, 4 per state | clinic | 24 | ₦50,000 | ₦1,200,000 |
| Termly check ins with each scholar (data and transport) | scholar term | 360 | ₦2,000 | ₦720,000 |
| Subtotal B | ₦20,520,000 | |||
| C. Travel and transport | ||||
| Monitoring visits to scholars’ schools in the 5 states outside Abuja | visit | 10 | ₦150,000 | ₦1,500,000 |
| Subtotal C | ₦1,500,000 | |||
| D. Materials and equipment | ||||
| Scholarship and NELFUND guide, printed and online | lump sum | 1 | ₦300,000 | ₦300,000 |
| Subtotal D | ₦300,000 | |||
| E. Monitoring, evaluation and learning | ||||
| Attendance and results tracking, end of project review | lump sum | 1 | ₦500,000 | ₦500,000 |
| Subtotal E | ₦500,000 | |||
| F. Communications and visibility | ||||
| Scholar stories (with consent) and materials | lump sum | 1 | ₦300,000 | ₦300,000 |
| Subtotal F | ₦300,000 | |||
| Total direct costs (A to F) | ₦25,040,000 | |||
| G. Indirect costs, 10% of direct costs | ₦2,504,000 | |||
| Total, 24 months | ₦27,544,000 | |||
Prices are estimates at November 2026 prices. Staff are costed as a share of their time. Teachers, students and community members are never charged. Indirect costs of 10% cover finance, safeguarding, audit and office support. Fees are paid directly to schools and service providers, never in cash.
Ways to fund this project
24 months of change, with your name on it if you wish.
Support 10 scholars and 4 clinics in 1 state.
Fees, levies, uniform, books and stationery for 2 years.
Pay WAEC or NECO for 1 scholar in SS3.
Help 50 young people apply for loans and scholarships.
A venue for training or community sessions, printing, data for coaches and scholars, transport, or the time of a professional who can mentor, counsel or give legal advice. In kind support lowers the cash budget, and we report it like any other gift.
The CARE HUB platform, our trained team and State Volunteer Leads, our safeguarding framework and our partnerships with schools, communities and pro bono lawyers. These are not charged to this budget.
What funders receive
- A progress report every term, with numbers and real stories, shared with consent
- A financial report against every budget line, and audited accounts each year
- Your name or logo on this page and in project materials, if you wish
- Invitations to visit schools and communities
- Strict safeguarding and data protection: we never share the names of the people we serve
Sustainable Development Goals
Sources
- UNICEF Nigeria, Nigerian Child 2025 Report, presented in Kano. Reported by AllAfrica, 21 November 2025.
- Federal Ministry of Education memo of 18 June 2026 on WAEC and NECO fees. Reported by News Central.
- NELFUND student loan disbursements hit N372.62 billion. Nairametrics, 4 October 2026.
Funders and partners are listed here with their logos. You can fund the whole project, 1 state or any part of the budget.
