How Students Can Actually Win And Use The FG ₦50m Innovation Grant

The Federal Government recently announced a ₦50 million innovation grant for students, and everywhere on campus the same questions are flying around: who will they pick, and how exactly do I stand a chance? For many young Nigerians, this is more than just prize money.

It is a chance to turn class projects, hackathon ideas and hostel conversations into real products, real companies and real impact. But grants like this are usually very competitive. Good ideas alone are not enough; you have to present them well, show you can execute, and prove you will use the money wisely.

What the Grant Is Really Looking For

Most student innovation grants, including this one, tend to reward projects that solve a real problem, are useful for Nigeria, can actually be built with the money and time available, and have the potential to grow beyond a one-off charity project.

Start With the Problem, Not the App

The best way to refine your idea is to start from the problem, not from the product. Judges care more about the pain you are trying to solve. You should be able to explain the problem in simple English, say clearly who is affected, show how many people are affected, and describe what they currently do that is not working.

Instead of saying “we want to build an AI app,” it is stronger to say “we want to help small shops in Aba track sales and profit without needing to understand complicated accounting.” Once the problem is clear, your solution becomes easier to believe in.

Make Your Solution Simple and Practical

After that, shape your solution so it is practical. Explain what you want to build, who will use it first, how those people will discover it, and how you will sustain it after the grant. Avoid vague phrases like “we will revolutionise agriculture.” It is better to give a simple, concrete picture of how a user will find and use your solution in real life. The more real your story feels, the more confident judges will be.

Build a Team That Can Actually Deliver

You also need a strong, balanced team. Most grants prefer teams, because no one person has all the skills. A good student team usually includes at least one person who understands the technical side, one who can handle operations and business decisions, and one who can manage design and communication. You do not all have to be in the same department, but your skills should complement each other. Judges look at your team and ask if these people can really deliver what they are promising.

Use a Simple Pitch Deck to Organise Your Thoughts

Even if the grant form does not demand it, you should create a simple pitch deck for yourself. It helps you think clearly and prepares you for later stages. In your slides, walk through the problem, the solution, the users, the size of the opportunity, how the solution works in practice, who your team members are, and what you will do with the grant.

Show a Clear and Responsible Budget

One major thing judges study carefully is your budget. Many students make the mistake of seeing grant money as free cash. Serious programmes want to see that you will use the funds responsibly. You should show how much will go to building the product, how much to testing and piloting, how much to basic branding and marketing, how much to registrations and legal needs, and how much to essential operations.