Kaduna State Scholarship 2026: Full Guide | How to Apply

1. About Kaduna State and Its Education Landscape

Kaduna State is located in the North-West geopolitical zone of Nigeria. It was created on 27 May 1967 as part of the country’s state creation exercise, carving it out of the former Northern Region. The state capital is Kaduna city, which was historically developed by Lord Frederick Lugard, the Governor-General of Nigeria (1914–1919), who moved the Northern Region’s capital from Zungeru to Kaduna owing to its central position and favourable conditions along the Kaduna River.

Kaduna State is home to 23 local government areas (LGAs) and borders Zamfara State to the northwest, Katsina State to the north, Kano and Jigawa States to the northeast, Bauchi and Plateau States to the east, Nasarawa and Niger States to the south, and the Federal Capital Territory to the south. The state is one of Nigeria’s most educationally diverse, hosting several major federal institutions including Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria  one of Nigeria’s largest and most respected universities as well as the Kaduna State University (KASU), Federal College of Education (Technical) Gusau, and the College of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Kaduna (CPESK).

2. What is the Kaduna State Scholarship and Loans Board (KADSSLB)?

The Kaduna State Scholarship and Loans Board (KADSSLB)  also referred to as KSSB or KDSG Scholarship Board  is the government agency responsible for administering all scholarship and student loan programmes on behalf of the Kaduna State Government (KDSG). It is headquartered at Sir Kashim Ibrahim House, 44 Polytechnic Road, Badiko, Kaduna.

“To identify, select and empower qualified citizens of Kaduna State to meet the current and future manpower requirements of the State while remaining globally competitive.” — KADSSLB Official Mandate

The Board operates under the Kaduna State Ministry of Education and is governed by a Board of Trustees accountable to the state government. As of 2024–2025, the Executive Secretary is Professor Yahya Sale Ibrahim, who has been vocal about the board’s commitment to inclusion, meritocracy, and transparency in the scholarship selection process under Governor Uba Sani’s administration.

The KADSSLB manages both local scholarships (for study within Nigeria) and foreign scholarships (for overseas study at approved institutions). It also administers student loans at preferential interest rates for students who do not qualify for full scholarship awards but require financial support to complete their education.

3. Kaduna State Scholarship — Overview

The Kaduna State scholarship programme is structured to serve students across multiple dimensions of disadvantage and academic merit. It is not a single award — it is a multi-category financial aid ecosystem designed to ensure no deserving Kaduna indigene is left behind due to financial constraints, disability, or limited access to technology education.

The programme targets students in approved universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education across Nigeria, as well as (for the foreign scholarship) approved institutions overseas. Both new (fresh) students and returning students are eligible, though specific conditions differ between categories. Applications are submitted entirely online via the official portal at kdsg-scholarship.com, and the application form is completely free of charge.

4. All 6 Categories of the Kaduna State Scholarship at a Glance

5. Category 1: Merit-Based Local Scholarship

The Merit-Based Local Scholarship is the flagship category of the KADSSLB programme, designed to reward academic excellence among Kaduna State indigenes studying in Nigerian tertiary institutions. It reflects the state government’s commitment to recognising and incentivising hard work at every level of tertiary education.

Who Is Eligible?

• Kaduna State indigenes enrolled as full-time students in any accredited public or private university, polytechnic, or college of education in Nigeria
• Returning students with a minimum CGPA of 4.0/5.0 or 3.5/4.0 (equivalent to First Class or strong Second Class Upper) maintained throughout their studies
• Fresh students (100 Level, ND1 or HND1) who just resumed from January 2020 onwards are eligible to apply even without any university result yet — they must meet the O-Level requirements
• Fresh students must provide evidence of Grade B in at least five O-Level subjects including Mathematics and English, and Grade C in all other subjects, from a single sitting of WASSCE or NECO (not later than 2017 for historical cycles — always check the current announcement for the updated sitting threshold)

6. Category 2: Need-Based (Student Care) Scholarship

The Need-Based Scholarship — formally referred to as the Student Care Scholarship — is targeted at indigent Kaduna State students who have the academic ability but lack the financial means to fund their own education. The Kaduna State Government views this scholarship as a great leveller that gives every student, regardless of family income, equal access to quality education.

Award Amount

The Need-Based Scholarship covers tuition fees plus a ₦10,000 monthly living stipend — one of the most specific and concrete award commitments among all KADSSLB scholarship categories.

Key Requirements

• Must demonstrate genuine financial need through supporting documentation
• Both parents must provide a Tax Identification Number (TIN) and a Biometric Verification Number (BVN). If a parent is deceased, a death certificate is required in place of the tax certificate
• If a parent is a peasant farmer or housewife — whether in urban or rural areas — they must still obtain a tax certificate, even if income is as low as ₦100
• Must not be a spillover student (a student who has exceeded the normal duration of their programme)
• Masters students who have spent more than 2 years, and PhD students who have spent more than 4 years, are not eligible to apply
• Students just resuming 100 Level, ND1, or HND1 can apply even without university results

7. Category 3: Disability Scholarship

The Kaduna State Disability Scholarship is a dedicated local scholarship for citizens of Kaduna State living with physical or sensory disabilities. It is open to both undergraduate and postgraduate students and acknowledges that disabled students face additional academic and financial challenges that warrant a more accessible set of eligibility criteria.

Key Requirements

• Must be a Kaduna State indigene with a recognised disability (physical, sensory, or other qualifying disability)
• Must be enrolled in an accredited public or private tertiary institution in Nigeria
• O-Level Threshold: Minimum Grade C in at least five O-Level subjects including Mathematics and English Language — and unlike the Merit Scholarship, two sittings are acceptable
• Must provide a certified medical certificate from a registered medical professional confirming the nature of the disability
• For postgraduate applicants: must have a Masters merit grade to apply for a PhD scholarship
• Candidates can apply without having a secured admission, but admission must be obtained from an approved institution before the award is finalised

8. Category 4: Skills/ICT Scholarship

In line with Kaduna State’s vision to become a Knowledge-Based Economy and Technological Hub for Northern Nigeria, KADSSLB operates a targeted ICT and Skills Scholarship. The scholarship was originally created specifically for 50 girls to study ICT — but was extended to both genders after uptake from female applicants was lower than expected (only 35 girls applied in the original cycle).

This scholarship is typically linked to programmes at affiliated institutions. One notable arrangement was a scholarship for students at Mewar International University, Nasarawa State  linked with Mewar University, India  for ICT-related courses. The structure of this award varies by cycle; always check the current KADSSLB announcement for the specific partnering institution and eligible programmes.

Who Is Eligible?

• Kaduna State indigenes of either gender seeking to study ICT-related programmes
• Must be seeking admission into or already enrolled in the specified partnering institution for the current cycle
• Must demonstrate basic academic eligibility (SSCE with relevant passes including Mathematics)
• Women and girls are particularly encouraged to apply, given the scholarship’s original gender-equity mandate

9. Category 5: Foreign/Overseas Scholarship

The Kaduna State Foreign Scholarship is the most prestigious and financially significant category in the KADSSLB programme. It funds Kaduna indigenes to study at approved overseas universities, primarily at the postgraduate level (Masters and PhD), though undergraduate medical programmes are also covered in specific cases.

Eligibility for the Foreign Scholarship

• Must be a Kaduna State indigene with a Certificate of Origin from a recognised Kaduna LGA
• Must have a graduating CGPA of 4.0/5.0 or 3.2/4.0 for Master’s applications
• Must have a Master’s merit grade to apply for a PhD scholarship
• For undergraduate medical programmes: must have a strong O-Level profile and gain admission into an approved overseas medical school
• Candidates can apply without secured admission — but admission must be obtained from an approved university before the scholarship is awarded
• Prior education must have been in English or IELTS/TOEFL is required for non-English-medium educational backgrounds
• Must have a minimum CGPA of 3.0 for undergraduate (fresh international applicants) as a general guide for overseas programmes
• If the programme cost exceeds the scholarship cap, the student can receive a cocktail of scholarship and loan — with the loan portion charged at 8% per annum by KADSSLB

10. Category 6: KADSSLB Student Loan

The Kaduna State Scholarship and Loans Board Student Loan is not a scholarship — but it is an integral part of the KADSSLB financial aid ecosystem and deserves mention in any comprehensive guide. It is designed for students who:

• Do not qualify for a full scholarship but still need financial support to complete their education
• Are enrolled in a foreign programme whose cost exceeds the scholarship cap ($50,000 or $60,000)
• Need supplementary funding beyond what the local need-based or merit scholarship provides

The loan is offered at a preferential interest rate of 8% per annum — significantly lower than commercial bank education loan rates in Nigeria. It is designed to be repaid after graduation. Applicants must demonstrate a clear plan for repayment and must provide guarantors as part of the loan application process.

11. Award Amounts and Benefits Summary

12. General Eligibility Requirements

The following general requirements apply across all KADSSLB scholarship categories. Specific categories may have additional or adjusted criteria as outlined in the individual sections above.

Core Requirements

• Must be an indigene of Kaduna State with a verifiable Certificate of Origin from one of the 23 recognised Local Government Areas of Kaduna State
• Must be enrolled as a full-time student in a recognised and approved public or private university, polytechnic, college of education, or overseas institution
• Must have completed the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSCE — WAEC or NECO) and obtained the required grades
• Must have good academic standing at the time of application (not on academic probation or suspension)
• Must provide a valid personal email address and active phone number — all KADSSLB communications are sent electronically
• Must submit genuine, authentic documents — falsification results in immediate and permanent disqualification
• Must not already be a beneficiary of another KADSSLB scholarship in the same cycle
• For Need-Based applicants: both parents must be able to provide TIN and BVN for income verification

Who Is NOT Eligible

• Students who are spillover students — those who have exceeded the normal duration of their current programme
• Masters students who have spent more than 2 years on their current degree
• PhD students who have spent more than 4 years on their current degree
• Students enrolled in unapproved or unaccredited institutions
• Non-indigenes of Kaduna State — the scholarship is open only to confirmed Kaduna State citizens
• Students whose O-Level results were obtained in more than one sitting for the Merit-Based Local Scholarship (two sittings are acceptable for the Disability Scholarship)

13. Eligible Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Kaduna State

The Kaduna State scholarship is open to indigenes from all 23 Local Government Areas of Kaduna State. Under Governor Uba Sani’s new inclusive scholarship template, students from rural LGAs receive equal consideration alongside those from urban centres like Kaduna North and Kaduna South.

14. Required Documents

Prepare the following documents before starting your application on the KADSSLB portal. All documents must be clearly scanned and in acceptable digital formats. Incomplete or illegible documents are grounds for rejection during the verification stage.

15. Step-by-Step Application Guide

All KADSSLB scholarship and loan applications are submitted exclusively online through the official portal at kdsg-scholarship.com. The process is free, and no payment is required at any stage. Here is a complete step-by-step guide:

1. Visit the Official KADSSLB Scholarship PortalOpen your browser and go to kdsg-scholarship.com — this is the only legitimate and official application platform for the Kaduna State Scholarship. Bookmark it. Do not apply through any third-party website or agent.

2. Check Current Available Scholarships and LoansOnce on the homepage, review the “Available Scholarships and Loans” section to confirm which categories are open for applications in the current cycle. The portal lists all live scholarship windows, so confirm the status before proceeding.

3. Click “Apply Here” and Select Your Scholarship CategoryClick the “Apply Here” button and select the scholarship category that applies to you — Merit-Based, Need-Based, Disability, ICT/Skills, or Foreign Scholarship. Read the specific terms and conditions for your chosen category carefully before filling in the form.

4. Fill in Your Personal and Academic InformationComplete all required fields accurately: full legal name, date of birth, LGA of origin, institution, faculty, department, year of study, CGPA, and contact information. Use a personal email address you check regularly — all award notifications and correspondence will be sent there.

5. Enter Your TIN and BVN (Need-Based Applicants)If applying under the Need-Based category, enter your personal BVN and both parents’ Tax Identification Numbers (TIN). Ensure both parents have obtained their TIN certificates before beginning the application. If a parent is deceased, have their death certificate ready for upload.

6. Upload All Required DocumentsUpload clear, legible scans of all required documents listed in Section 14. Ensure every document is fully visible — blurry or cropped uploads will be rejected. Use a PDF or high-resolution JPEG format as specified by the portal.

7. Review Your Application Thoroughly Before SubmittingBefore clicking submit, re-read every section of your application and verify that all details are accurate — especially your CGPA, LGA of origin, institution name, and document uploads. Errors cannot be corrected after submission.

8. Submit and Await Screening NotificationOnce submitted, keep an eye on your registered email and phone number. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to the screening and credential verification exercise where submitted documents are physically or digitally verified against originals.

9. Attend the Screening/Verification ExerciseIf shortlisted, attend the screening with your original documents. Your FSLC, O-Level results, admission letter, transcript, and Certificate of Origin will all be cross-checked. Any discrepancy between submitted documents and originals results in disqualification.

10. Receive Award Notification and DisbursementSuccessful applicants will be notified via email and SMS. The scholarship award will be disbursed to the bank account provided during application. Ensure your bank account is active, in your own name, and linked to your BVN.

16. Governor Uba Sani’s New Scholarship Template: Inclusion Without Sacrificing Merit

One of the most significant developments in the Kaduna State Scholarship programme in recent years has been the introduction of Governor Uba Sani’s new scholarship template a bold reform that has attracted national attention for its commitment to combining academic rigour with socioeconomic inclusivity.

Historically, scholarship awards in Kaduna State as in many Nigerian states disproportionately favoured urban students who had better access to quality secondary education, private tutoring, and information about scholarship opportunities. Rural students, students from lower-income families, and students from smaller LGAs were often inadvertently disadvantaged despite equal legal eligibility.

Professor Yahya Sale Ibrahim, Executive Secretary of KADSSLB, explained the new philosophy in a 2025 media briefing: the programme now employs a rigorous selection process that evaluates academic performance alongside potential, ensuring that deserving students from every corner of Kaduna State whether from Kaduna’s urban centres or quiet rural communities  have genuinely equal footing.

17. Tips to Win the Kaduna State Scholarship

Know Which Category You Qualify For Before Applying

Many applicants make the mistake of applying for the wrong category. Read the requirements for all six categories carefully and identify the one (or two) that best matches your profile. If you have strong grades and financial need, you may qualify for both the Merit and Need-Based categories  but check the portal to see if dual applications are permitted in the current cycle.

Obtain Your Certificate of Origin Early

The Certificate of Origin from your LGA Secretariat is a non-negotiable document for every KADSSLB scholarship category. The process of obtaining this document from local government offices can take days or weeks, especially for LGAs in more remote areas. Start this process at the beginning of the year not when the application portal opens.

Parents Must Get Their Tax Certificates Immediately (Need-Based)

If you are applying under the Need-Based category, both parents must have TIN certificates — even if they are peasant farmers or housewives earning very little income. The KADSSLB is explicit about this requirement. If your parent is deceased, obtain their death certificate. Begin this process months before the scholarship window opens, as Tax Identification Number registration can take time through the FIRS (Federal Inland Revenue Service).

Do Not Wait for University Results to Apply

Fresh 100 Level, ND1, and HND1 students do not need university results to apply. The KADSSLB explicitly permits fresh students to apply using only their O-Level results. If you have just gained admission, apply immediately when the portal opens.

Aim for Grade B or Above in Core O-Level Subjects

For the Merit-Based scholarship, the threshold is Grade B in at least five O-Level subjects including Mathematics and English. This is a higher standard than the minimum requirement for many Nigerian scholarships (which often accept Grade C). If you are still in secondary school, target Bs and above in your core subjects — it will significantly expand your scholarship options.

Apply the Moment the Portal Opens

The KADSSLB scholarship portal does not always specify a closing date in advance. Previous cycles have closed without prior warning once a specific number of applications were received. Check kdsg-scholarship.com regularly from January each year and apply as soon as you see the window is open.

Follow KADSSLB on Social Media for Real-Time Updates

The Kaduna State Scholarship and Loans Board is active on Facebook (Kaduna State Scholarship and Loans Board — 32,000+ followers) and on X/Twitter (@kadss_lb). Following these pages is the most reliable way to receive real-time announcements about application openings, deadlines, and scholarship events.

19. Conclusion

The Kaduna State scholarship  managed by the Kaduna State Scholarship and Loans Board (KADSSLB)  is one of Nigeria’s most comprehensive and reforming state-government educational financial aid programmes. With six distinct categories covering merit, financial need, disability, technology skills, overseas study, and student loans, it is built to ensure that no qualified Kaduna indigene  whether from Kaduna North or Sanga LGA, from a wealthy family or an indigent one, able-bodied or living with disability  is denied the opportunity to access quality education.

Under Governor Uba Sani’s new scholarship template, the programme has undergone a meaningful transformation: it now combines meritocracy with deep inclusivity, actively breaking the historical pattern of urban-favouritism in scholarship selection. The results are already visible  graduates from Television Village, Jaba, and Ikara LGAs wearing medical degrees, employed in public hospitals, treating patients who would otherwise wait months for care. This is the scholarship system changing real lives.

Whether you are a 100 Level fresh student with no university results yet, a postgraduate aiming for an overseas PhD, a student with a disability, or a woman seeking to break into Nigeria’s ICT sector  the Kaduna State Scholarship has a pathway for you. The application is free. The portal is at kdsg-scholarship.com. The only requirement is that you know the rules, prepare your documents, and apply on time.