By Fresh Facts Magazine Staff Writer
In a bold move to empower Nigeria’s next generation of innovators, the Founder of Moniepoint, Tosin Eniolorunda, has unveiled the Future Builders Fund, a scholarship initiative aimed at supporting bright but underprivileged students in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) across the country.
According to a statement from the Moniepoint Foundation, the programme seeks to eliminate the financial and structural obstacles that often hinder talented students from realizing their full potential. The initiative also aligns with the Federal Government’s ongoing drive to expand Nigeria’s digital economy and nurture indigenous technological capacity.
The Future Builders Fund builds on Eniolorunda’s long-standing commitment to educational development. His foundation has previously donated a CAD/CAM laboratory worth over ₦100 million to the Obafemi Awolowo University, and supported several youth innovation programmes, including the University of Lagos Management Students Association Entrepreneurship Challenge, the Nigenius Inter-School Robotics Competition, and the NextGen Connect Interschool Oratory Competition—with a combined value of over ₦50 million.
Speaking on the motivation behind the new scholarship, Eniolorunda emphasized the need to bridge opportunity gaps for Nigeria’s youth.
“Every child deserves the opportunity to become the best version of themselves, and socioeconomic barriers should not block the path to mastery and brilliance,” he said. “Through the Future Builders Fund, we aim to identify and nurture the innovators who will shape Nigeria’s future.”
The scholarship’s pilot phase will sponsor 14 students, with two recipients selected from each of seven federal universities representing Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones. The participating universities include:
- Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife
- University of Nigeria, Nsukka
- University of Calabar
- University of Abuja
- Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria
- University of Maiduguri
- University of Lagos
Each beneficiary will receive tuition support, hostel accommodation, a laptop, a monthly stipend, and access to mentorship programmes designed to foster innovation and leadership skills.
Eligible applicants—students entering the 200 level at any of the listed universities—are required to submit their bio-data, academic records, and a personal statement of need. Shortlisted candidates will undergo a standardised test evaluating their academic ability, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.
The top two candidates from each university will be awarded the scholarship, which will be renewed annually based on satisfactory academic performance and active engagement in technical or leadership activities outside the classroom.
The five-year pilot phase of the Future Builders Fund is expected to combine financial assistance, mentorship, and practical STEM development to accelerate the growth of Nigeria’s next generation of world-class innovators and changemakers.
