Tunde Onakoya, Hack Sultan, Sam Otigba Launch ₦250 Million Scholarship Fund for NYSC Members, Graduates
Digitnomics 
By Nonye Ngoka
Three prominent Nigerian innovators—National Chess Master and Chess in Slums Africa (CISA) founder Tunde Onakoya, AltSchool Africa Co-founder Akintunde “Hack Sultan” Sultan, and Jobs59 founder Samuel Otigba—have unveiled a ₦250 million scholarship initiative aimed at equipping recent graduates and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members with in-demand digital skills.
The initiative seeks to tackle graduate unemployment and underemployment by helping young Nigerians acquire industry-relevant technology skills during their service year, preparing them for careers in the digital economy.
Announcing the programme on X (formerly Twitter), Otigba described the initiative as a practical intervention designed to transform the NYSC year into an opportunity for career development rather than a waiting period.
“We’re solving the graduate unemployment challenge one NYSC member at a time,” he said.
Scholarships and laptop support
Beyond tuition support, the organisers acknowledged that many aspiring tech professionals struggle to access the basic tools needed for learning.
To address this, the programme will provide laptops to selected scholarship recipients through a separate application and assessment process.
The organisers believe removing hardware barriers will improve learning outcomes and help beneficiaries fully participate in their training.
Training in high-demand digital skills
Participants will undergo training through AltSchool Africa in some of today’s most sought-after technology fields.
These include Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered full-stack engineering, cybersecurity, cloud engineering, data analytics, technical product management and digital marketing automation.
The programme is designed to equip participants with practical, job-ready skills that align with current industry demands.
More than financial support
Each successful applicant will receive financial assistance worth ₦160,000, comprising ₦10,000 to cover application-related costs and ₦150,000 toward tuition for any nine to twelve-month diploma programme at AltSchool Africa.
In addition to technical training, beneficiaries will receive mentorship and career guidance throughout the programme.
From the sixth month of study, participants will also gain access to internship and employment opportunities through the Jobs59 platform, giving them a pathway into the workforce after acquiring their skills.
Building on an existing initiative
The scholarship programme builds on previous collaborations among the trio.
In 2025, they introduced SIWES Connect, an initiative that linked students and graduates seeking industrial training placements with organisations offering internship opportunities.
The new programme expands that vision by focusing on digital skills development and employment readiness.
Who can apply?
The scholarship is open to recent graduates and serving NYSC members across Nigeria.
Interested applicants can submit their applications through AltSchool Africa’s dedicated NYSC scholarship portal. While the organisers have announced the programme, they are yet to disclose the application deadline.
As Nigeria’s digital economy continues to grow, initiatives like this are expected to help bridge the country’s technology skills gap while creating more employment opportunities for young professionals.
