Are you an African student interested in studying at any university in Africa but your lack of sufficient funds poses a challenge to your desire to obtain the undergraduate or graduate degree of your choice? The good news is that there are scholarship opportunities in different African nations, from South Africa to Kenya, Nigeria, and Ghana, and those programs will be highlighted in this article so that you can access them for the advancement of your studies.
The available scholarship programs are usually funded by government partnerships, foundations, and private organizations, and they are awarded to talented and motivated students from Africa who want to pursue a Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Doctorate degree in Africa.
If you are wondering about the extent of the benefits of the financial aid provided, the sponsoring body or group offers either full or partial scholarships that cover tuition, housing, feeding, transportation, course materials e.g. books, and other additional fees.
Here are 9 of the most popular scholarship programs in Africa:
Working to Advance Science and Technology Education for African Women (WAAW) Foundation Scholarship (For All Africans)
The WAAW scholarship is available for female students of African origin living and studying in Africa. To be eligible, you must be currently enrolled in a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree program and studying STEM-related courses at an African university. An eligible candidate is one expected to have a good academic record and demonstrate financial need.
Klaus-Jurgen Bathe Leadership Program (For mostly South Africans)
At The University of Cape Town
The Klaus-Jürgen Barthe Leadership Program is open to all South African citizens enrolled in undergraduate programs in any of the six faculties at the University of Cape Town. Students can apply for financial aid in their first year or after completing their first year. However, there must be at least two years of the degree program remaining at the time of award. This scholarship cannot be held for a period of less than two years. Graduate/ Postgraduate students are not qualified to receive this grant.
Although it is open to mostly South African nationals, candidates from other sub-Saharan African countries are also welcome to apply. But one condition for non-South African candidates is that they must demonstrate a willingness to remain in South Africa and serve the country for at least 10 years after their studies. They must also show commitment to serving their home country. The scholarship provides full financial support worth R120,000 per year and is intended to cover tuition fees, accommodation, food, books, stationery, and transport.
Jim Ovia Foundation Leaders Scholarship (For Nigerians only)
Jim Ovia Foundation Leaders Scholarship is provided to all Nigerian students who are studying a variety of programs at any Nigerian university or college. It is granted annually and each year, 100 eligible applicants are selected as fellows from the thousands that apply. This scholarship is awarded based on the individual’s intellectual ability, leadership qualities, and desire to contribute to society at large with the goal of improving the lives of others.
ACCES Post-Secondary Scholarship Program (For Kenyans only)
ACCES’ flagship program is a Post-Secondary Education Scholarship Program available in Kenya. ACCES awards partial scholarships to the most vulnerable and outstanding Kenyan students to ensure they complete their full academic studies at any higher institution.
Fondazione Edu Scholarship (For mostly Ghanaians)
Ghanaian students are the ones who mostly benefit from the Fondazione Edu Scholarship. It focuses on the fields of Technical Sciences and Agricultural Sciences. The foundation offers Ghanaian and other African students who have demonstrated need, the opportunity to pursue higher education in their home countries. The scholarship covers tuition fees, books, accommodation and board. The financial aid is awarded for four years as long as they continue to demonstrate excellent academic standards with a B average of 3.00 CGPA or higher.
Solomon Mahlangu Scholarship Fund – NYDA (For South Africans only)
This study fund is designed to provide financial support to young South Africans especially those in rural areas to complete quality education at any university of their choice.
The Solomon Mahlangu Scholarship Fund aims to create an enabling environment for academically gifted young people to have the opportunity to continue their studies at a higher education level. This program is available to eligible South African youths who meet the minimum requirements set by NYDA and have been admitted to public universities and colleges.
Joshua Nkomo Scholarship (For Zimbabweans only)
The Joshua Nkomo Scholarship is provided to Zimbabwean nationals who are under the age of 21 at the time of application. The financial aid is shared in such a way that 70 percent is for those pursuing degrees in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), while 30 percent is set aside for other fields.
To be eligible, applicants are expected to meet the following: Excellent academic performance as determined by the applicant’s performance in official examinations. Leadership potential – demonstrated through levels of responsibility and leadership in school and community. You must also demonstrate the ethos of community engagement.
Zawadi Africa Education Fund (For Kenyans, Ugandans, Mozambicans and Ghanaians)
The Zawadi Africa Education Fund is a program that provides scholarships to academically gifted girls from disadvantaged families in select African countries like Kenya, Uganda, and Mozambique to pursue higher education in the United States, Uganda, Ghana, South Africa, and Kenya.
To be eligible, students who are applying must meet the following requirements: Should be a female who must have obtained a grade A in the Abitur exam. You must have held a leadership role in your school and community. An eligible candidate must come from a financially needy background. You must have graduated from high school within two years before applying to Zawadi Africa.
Tomorrow’s Leaders Scholarship Program (North Africa, Middle East)
The U.S. Department of State’s Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) and AMIDEAST jointly created Tomorrow’s Leaders Scholarship Program which targets talented and highly motivated high school students from disadvantaged backgrounds in the Middle East and North Africa e.g. (Algeria, Libya, Morocco, and Tunisia.)
The scholarship program offers potential leaders financial support for four years of study in the university and internship opportunities at two select institutions of higher learning in the Middle East; the American University of Beirut and the Lebanese American University.
Recipients will have their travel expenses, tuition fees, accident insurance, health insurance, accommodation covered for four years at any of the above mentioned universities, and a monthly allowance during the academic year.
