Jim Ovia Foundation Scholarship 2025 Guide
The Jim Ovia Foundation Scholarship gives Nigerian undergraduates full support for their studies. It pays full tuition fees, covers accommodation, and provides a yearly living allowance of ₦150,000 for each selected student until the end of the degree programme, as long as the rules are met. The scholarship is funded by Mr Jim Ovia, the Chief Executive Officer of Zenith Bank, and it aims to raise a strong group of young leaders who can help solve real problems in health, technology, and finance across Nigeria.
This guide sets out who can apply, what the award covers, the documents needed, and how to send a correct application in 2025.
What is the Jim Ovia Foundation Scholarship?
The Jim Ovia Foundation Scholarship is a fully funded award for Nigerian citizens who study, or plan to study, at an accredited university or other approved higher education centre in Nigeria.
The scholarship focuses on students who have strong academic records, show clear leadership ability, and care about improving life in their communities. Over time, many past and current beneficiaries are expected to play key roles in health care, tech growth, and financial services in the country.
Who can apply for the Jim Ovia Foundation Scholarship?
To be eligible, an applicant must meet all of the following conditions:
- Be a citizen of Nigeria.
- Be currently enrolled, or already admitted, into an accredited tertiary programme at a Nigerian university or similar higher education centre.
- Show clear academic excellence.
- Show leadership ability, for example through school, community, or youth projects.
- Be keen to give back to society and to help improve the lives of others.
Scholarships are awarded based on:
- Intellectual ability.
- Leadership capability.
- A strong wish to serve the wider community.
There is no limit on course of study. Students in any field may apply, as long as they meet the general rules.
Scholarship value and benefits
Selected students receive:
- Full payment of tuition fees.
- Support for accommodation.
- A living allowance of ₦150,000 per year.
These benefits are given each year from the point of award until the student completes the degree programme, as long as the student keeps up strong academic performance and follows all scholarship rules.
Required documents for the 2025 application
Applicants need to upload clear, readable scanned copies of all required documents. The list below comes from the current scholarship guidelines:
- Recognised government identity card.
- Official birth certificate.
- Recent passport photograph.
- Official JAMB admission letter.
- University admission letter.
- Official acceptance letter from the university.
- Copy of UTME result.
- Current academic calendar of the university, stamped or signed.
- Signed and stamped student copy of academic results from 100 level to date, showing GPA per semester and overall CGPA.
For medical students:
- Academic grades must be converted to CGPA.
- The result must show the university grading system and the actual conversion to CGPA.
- The document must be stamped and signed by the school authorities.
More documents required:
- Original copy of the Head of Department recommendation letter.
- This letter must not be older than four months.
- It should state current academic level, current academic session, current semester, and current CGPA.
- Valid school identity card.
- Original secondary school O’Level certificate (WAEC, NECO, or NABTEB).
Applicants who do not include any of these required items may face automatic rejection during screening.
Key rules applicants must follow
Before filling the online form, each applicant should note the following rules:
- No agents are allowed. The applicant must fill and submit the form personally.
- There is no payment required to submit an application. Any money paid to an agent is at the applicant’s own risk and does not give any special chance of an award.
- Only one submission is allowed per applicant. Multiple entries lead to disqualification.
- Any falsified or forged document leads to automatic disqualification.
- The applicant must have completed Senior Secondary School.
- The applicant must have gained admission into a Nigerian university, state or federal, and must provide proof of admission.
- The applicant must have at least five credits in O’Level and must upload the result as proof.
- The applicant must be at least 16 years old at the time of application.
- There is no restriction on course or programme of study.
- The applicant must give a reliable email address and phone number. These will be used to share updates and outcomes.
- The email address must contain the applicant’s first name and surname, and must be a Gmail or Yahoo address.
- All scanned documents must be clear and easy to read. Blurred or unclear files may be rejected.
- Applicants may print the filled form for their records before clicking submit.
- Sending an application does not mean the applicant has received the scholarship award.
- There is no need to contact the foundation after submitting the form. Only shortlisted candidates who meet the selection criteria will be contacted.
- All information entered in the form must be accurate before the applicant clicks submit.
How to apply for the 2025 scholarship
To send a correct application for 2025, a student should:
- Read all the eligibility rules and document requirements.
- Gather every required document and scan each page clearly.
- Confirm that academic results, especially for medical students, match the grading format and are stamped and signed where needed.
- Visit the official online portal using the direct link to the application page:
2025 Jim Ovia Scholarship application page on the foundation website. - Fill all sections of the online form carefully.
- Upload each required document in the correct section.
- Review all entries and files once more and submit only one complete application.
Only applicants who follow these steps and meet the conditions will be considered during the selection process.
2025 application dates and deadline
For the 2025 award cycle:
- Scholarship application opens on 27 November 2025.
- Scholarship application closes on 29 November 2025.
The window is short, so students who already have their documents ready and who meet the rules will have a better chance of submitting a complete form before the deadline.
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