Mtn scholarship for Secondary School Students in Nigeria
If you are a secondary school student in Nigeria or the parent of one and you have been searching for an MTN scholarship that targets students at the secondary school level, this article is going to give you the clearest and most complete picture you will find. The MTN Foundation, which is the corporate social investment arm of MTN Nigeria Communications PLC, operates one of Nigeria’s most generous and consistently run scholarship programs. However, most of the programs within the MTN scholarship portfolio are designed for students who are already at the tertiary institution level.
That said, there is a very direct and important connection between secondary school performance and the MTN scholarship program that every secondary school student in Nigeria should know about. The MTN Foundation Top 10 UTME Scholarship, introduced in 2020, is an automatic, fully funded scholarship that is awarded to the ten secondary school leavers who score the highest in the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination each year. If you are a secondary school student preparing for JAMB, this scholarship starts with you, right now, before you ever set foot in a university.
Beyond the UTME Top 10 Scholarship, there is also the MTN MUSON Music Scholars Programme, which is open to young Nigerians who have completed secondary school and want to pursue a fully funded diploma in music. This is another MTN-backed scholarship that begins at the secondary school exit level and is genuinely targeted at young people who have not yet started tertiary education.
In this article, we are going to cover all of this and more. We will explain what the MTN Foundation is, walk through every scholarship program it currently runs including all three main categories, explain exactly which ones are accessible to secondary school students and secondary school leavers, detail the financial benefits, clarify the eligibility conditions, and show you step by step how to apply. We will also explain what secondary school students should be doing right now to position themselves for the MTN scholarship before they even finish school.
About MTN Foundation and Its Scholarship Mission
MTN Nigeria Communications PLC is one of the largest telecommunications companies in Nigeria and Africa. The company was incorporated in Nigeria and has been providing mobile telecommunications services since 2001. MTN Nigeria is listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange and has a subscriber base running into tens of millions of Nigerians across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The MTN Foundation was established in July 2004 as the corporate social investment vehicle of MTN Nigeria Communications PLC. It was formally commissioned in May 2005 with a mandate to promote the quality of life in Nigerian communities through targeted investments in health, education, and economic empowerment. Since its establishment, MTN Foundation has committed MTN Nigeria’s pledge of 1 percent of its Profit After Tax (PAT) annually to fund its activities. By the time this article was written, MTN Foundation had invested over 21 billion Nigerian Naira across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria, with over 900 projects completed across the country.
Within education specifically, the MTN Foundation scholarship program stands as the organization’s most visible and most impactful single initiative. Since the scholarship program was first launched, it has awarded scholarships to thousands of Nigerian students. The program has grown significantly over the years, with award amounts increasing from 200,000 Naira to 300,000 Naira per year by the 2024 academic cycle, the number of scholarship recipients increasing to 400 new scholars annually, and entirely new scholarship categories being added to serve a wider range of student needs.
The scholarship program operates under what MTN Foundation describes as the Youth Empowerment cause, which is one of the four pillars of the foundation’s social investment strategy alongside Health, Economic Empowerment, and Arts and Culture. Every year, the foundation publicizes the opening of applications for the scholarship program through its official channels, including its website at mtn.ng/scholarships, official social media pages, and through partner communication platforms.
Mtn scholarship for secondary school students: An Overview
The MTN Foundation scholarship is not a single award. It is an umbrella program comprising three distinct scholarship categories. Here is a summary of all three before we go into full detail on each:
The first is the MTN Foundation Science and Technology Scholarship (MTNF STS), which was launched in 2009 and 2010 and is the flagship and oldest of the three programs. It targets 300 level students in STEM-related courses at Nigerian public tertiary institutions. The second is the MTN Foundation Scholarship for Blind Students (MTNF SBS), launched in 2011 and 2012, which supports blind students at the 200 and 300 level in any course at Nigerian public tertiary institutions. The third is the MTN Foundation Top 10 UTME Scholarship, introduced in 2020, which automatically awards a full scholarship to the ten candidates who score highest in JAMB’s UTME examination each year, regardless of their preferred course or institution. This third category is the one that most directly involves secondary school students.
The MTN Top 10 UTME Scholarship: The Secondary School Student’s Direct Pathway
The MTN Foundation Top 10 UTME Scholarship is the most directly relevant MTN scholarship program for secondary school students in Nigeria. It is also the most straightforward scholarship in terms of how you qualify, because there is no separate application. If you are one of the ten students who score the highest in the JAMB UTME examination in a given year, you automatically qualify. The scholarship comes to you.
What is the JAMB UTME?
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, commonly known as JAMB, conducts the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) every year. The UTME is the primary university entrance examination in Nigeria. It is taken by hundreds of thousands of secondary school students and school leavers annually as part of the process of gaining admission to any tertiary institution in Nigeria. The examination covers four subjects, one of which is Use of English and three others relevant to the candidate’s desired field of study. Total scores can reach a maximum of 400 marks. The UTME is a computer-based test (CBT) conducted at designated JAMB examination centres across Nigeria.
Every year, JAMB announces the top-scoring candidates in the UTME. These are the students with the highest total scores out of all the hundreds of thousands who sat the examination nationwide. Achieving a position in the top 10 nationally in the UTME is an extraordinary academic achievement that demonstrates exceptional mastery of the examination subjects and extraordinary exam performance under pressure.
What Does the MTN Top 10 UTME Scholarship Cover?
The MTN Foundation Top 10 UTME Scholarship is an automatic, full scholarship that covers the entire duration of the recipient’s undergraduate studies. The ten successful candidates receive scholarships worth 300,000 Nigerian Naira from their 100 level through to graduation, provided they maintain the required academic grades. The scholarship is completely separate from other scholarships in the MTN Foundation program, meaning it is not capped at 300 students or subject to competitive applications from other students. The scholarship is awarded irrespective of the candidates’ preferred course of study or choice of tertiary institution, whether public or private in Nigeria. This last point is particularly significant. Every other MTN Foundation scholarship category is restricted to Nigerian public tertiary institutions. The Top 10 UTME Scholarship is available to recipients who attend both public and private universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education in Nigeria.
How Can a Secondary School Student Win the MTN Top 10 UTME Scholarship?
The pathway to this scholarship begins in secondary school, long before you sit the UTME. Here is what you need to be doing if you want to maximize your chances of placing in the top 10 nationally in JAMB:
Start preparing for the UTME early and systematically. The most consistent characteristic of top UTME scorers across multiple years is that they began serious preparation months in advance, not in the weeks before the examination. The highest scores are achieved by students who have a deep and genuine mastery of the four subjects they are being tested on, not just familiarity with past question formats. Practice with JAMB past questions extensively, but do not rely on memorizing patterns. Understand the concepts behind each question type deeply enough to answer unfamiliar versions of those questions correctly.
Pay particular attention to Use of English, because it is compulsory for all candidates. The English section is where many students lose marks unnecessarily due to grammar errors, vocabulary gaps, and comprehension weaknesses. These are all things that improve significantly with dedicated daily reading and practice over several months. Students who read widely, including newspapers, academic texts, and serious non-fiction, consistently perform better in the English section than those who only practice past question papers.
Take your three other JAMB subjects seriously and specialize in them deeply. Whether your chosen subjects are Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Literature, Government, Economics, or any other combination, the students who score in the 90s and above in each subject are typically those who have gone beyond the surface level of the topic. Practice under timed conditions using a CBT simulator to build the mental habit of answering quickly and accurately. JAMB CBT past questions are available on the official JAMB website and through numerous credible educational platforms.
The MTN MUSON Music Scholars Programme: For Secondary School Leavers
Another MTN scholarship opportunity that is directly accessible to secondary school leavers in Nigeria is the MTN MUSON Music Scholars Programme. This is a fully funded scholarship for talented young Nigerians who want to pursue a Diploma in Music at the Musical Society of Nigeria (MUSON) School of Music in Lagos.
Since its inception in 2006, the MTN Foundation has partnered with MUSON, which is the premium music school in Nigeria and one of the few institutions in the country offering an internationally recognized diploma in music, to provide fully funded music scholarships to talented young Nigerians annually. MUSON’s curriculum is modeled on international standards and covers a wide range of music disciplines including classical and contemporary performance, theory and composition, choral work, and instrumental training.
Eligibility for the MTN MUSON Scholarship
To be eligible for the MTN MUSON Music Scholars Programme, applicants must hold a Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSCE) or General Certificate of Education (GCE) result with at least credits in five subjects including English Language. This means secondary school leavers who have just completed their WAEC or NECO examinations and received strong results are the primary eligible group. You do not need to be in university or have any tertiary qualification. Your SSCE is the academic entry requirement. Applicants must also hold a Higher Pass Certificate of Music in both Practical and Theory elements from any of the following recognized music examining bodies: MUSON, the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM), or Trinity College London. This means you need prior formal music training and must have sat and passed music examinations at a recognized level before applying. The programme is open to eligible talented young Nigerians who wish to improve their skills in music, and the standard of performance expected is high. It is not a beginner’s program. It is designed for young people who already have a solid music foundation and want to develop it to professional and internationally recognized diploma standard.
What the MTN MUSON Scholarship Covers
The MTN MUSON Music Scholars Programme provides fully funded scholarships, meaning the scholarship covers the complete cost of the MUSON Diploma Program. Recipients do not pay tuition fees for the duration of the diploma. This is a genuinely significant opportunity for secondary school leavers who are musically talented but whose families cannot afford to fund full-time music conservatory training in Nigeria or abroad.
The MTN Science and Technology Scholarship (MTNF STS): Preparing for It as a Secondary School Student
While the MTN Foundation Science and Technology Scholarship is technically an undergraduate scholarship open only to 300 level students at public tertiary institutions, secondary school students can and should understand it now because it is something to plan for as you enter and progress through your tertiary education. Here is what you need to know:
The STS has been operating since 2009 and 2010 and is MTN Foundation’s flagship and most established scholarship scheme. It currently awards 300,000 Naira per year to 300 students annually in Nigerian public tertiary institutions, with the scholarship continuing until graduation provided recipients maintain the required grades. As of 2024, the foundation increased the total annual new scholarship count to 400 students. Since its inception, the STS has helped thousands of Nigerian students pursue science and technology courses without the financial pressures that cause many students in those fields to drop out or struggle.
The scholarship is open to students in the following STEM-related fields: Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering (all branches), Agriculture, and other related science and technology disciplines. Students in arts, social sciences, law, and humanities are not eligible for the STS category.
To be eligible when you reach 300 level, you must have a minimum CGPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale or 3.5 on a 5.0 scale at universities and colleges of education. This is equivalent to Second Class Upper or credit level. At polytechnics, you need a minimum CGPA of 3.0 from your Ordinary National Diploma (OND) program and you must have secured admission into the Higher National Diploma (HND) program. If you are a Direct Entry student, you must have a minimum OND CGPA of 3.0 and must have been admitted into 300 level at a public university. The scholarship is open only to students studying at Nigerian Public Tertiary Institutions (universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education) for the STS and SBS categories. Students at private universities are only eligible for the Top 10 UTME Scholarship category.
The MTN Scholarship for Blind Students (MTNF SBS): A Dedicated Pathway
The MTN Foundation Scholarship for Blind Students was launched in 2011 and 2012 and is one of the most compassionate and important scholarship programs run by any corporate institution in Nigeria. It provides financial support specifically to blind students at the 200 and 300 level of study at Nigerian public tertiary institutions, enabling them to pursue any course of study without the additional burden of having to fund their education independently. Since 2024, the number of blind student scholarship recipients has been increased from 60 to 100 per year, and the annual award amount increased from 200,000 Naira to 300,000 Naira, making it equal in financial terms to the STS and Top 10 UTME scholarships.
If you are a secondary school student who is visually impaired and is planning to enter a public tertiary institution, this scholarship is something to actively plan toward. Here is what you need to know to position yourself for it:
The SBS is open to blind students at the 200 level and 300 level studying any course of their choice. The scholarship is not restricted to science and technology fields. A blind student studying law, arts, education, business, or any other discipline at an eligible institution is fully eligible. For blind students studying law, which is a five-year program, only 300 level students qualify because of the program’s extended duration. The CGPA requirement for the SBS is more accessible than the STS. Blind students at universities and colleges of education need a minimum CGPA of 2.5. Blind students at polytechnics need a minimum CGPA of 2.0 from their OND program and must have secured HND admission. This reflects the foundation’s recognition that blind students face additional academic challenges and that the financial support should be broadly available within the eligible group rather than limited to only the highest academic performers.
How to Apply for the MTN Foundation Scholarship
For the Top 10 UTME Scholarship, there is no application process. If you are one of the top 10 UTME scorers nationally as announced by JAMB, MTN Foundation automatically reaches out to you through JAMB’s official records. No separate application is needed.
For the MTN MUSON Music Scholars Programme, applications are announced through the official MTN Foundation website and through MUSON’s own communication channels. Applications are submitted directly to MUSON in partnership with the MTN Foundation. Eligible applicants must present their SSCE or GCE certificates and their recognized music examination certificates when applying.
For the MTN Foundation STS and SBS scholarships, the application process is entirely online through the official scholarship application portal at apps.mtn.ng/scholarships. Here is the step-by-step process:
Step one is to visit the official application portal . This is the only legitimate platform for these scholarships. Do not apply through any third-party website, agent, or unofficial channel. Step two is to click on the Apply for MTN Foundation Scholarship button on the portal. This will take you to the scholarship application dashboard. Step three is to set up your account by entering a username and password. This account will be your personal hub for the entire application process. Use a valid and regularly checked email address because all communications will be sent there. Step four is to select the scholarship category you are applying for. The three available categories will be displayed on the dashboard: MTN Science and Technology Scholarship, MTN Scholarship for Blind Students, and the Top 10 UTME Scholarship. Select the one that applies to you. Step five is to go through the eligibility assessment questions.
The portal will ask you questions about your gender, institution, current level of study, course of study, and CGPA. These questions determine whether you qualify to proceed to the full application form. If you meet all the eligibility criteria, you will be directed to the full application form. If you do not meet the criteria, you will be informed at this stage before you invest further time. Step six is to fill in the full application form with accurate personal information including your name, date of birth, state, gender, marital status, email address, phone number, and disability status where relevant. Step seven is to upload all required documents. The documents typically required include a recent passport photograph, your WAEC or NECO O’Level certificate, your institution admission letter, your institution identity card, your academic transcript showing your current CGPA, and a personal statement explaining why you deserve the scholarship. Step eight is to submit your application before the deadline.
The 2025 application deadline was April 25, 2025. For future cycles, the application window typically opens in March and closes in April. The application is followed by an aptitude test for shortlisted candidates. The aptitude test consists of approximately 60 to 100 questions covering Mathematics, English, and General Paper. There are no officially published past questions for this aptitude test, and the question formats change from year to year. The best preparation for it is strong foundational knowledge in Mathematics and English rather than pattern memorization.
Documents Required for the MTN Foundation Scholarship
Before visiting the application portal, make sure you have the following documents ready in digital format: a recent passport photograph in JPEG format, your WAEC or NECO O’Level result showing credits in relevant subjects, your university or institution admission letter, your institution-issued student identity card, your most recent academic transcript or result sheet clearly showing your CGPA, and a personal statement or motivation letter explaining why you deserve the scholarship and what impact it will have on your academic journey. All documents must be genuine. MTN Foundation explicitly states in its application terms and conditions that all documents submitted must be genuine and must contain no false statements or representations. Document fraud is a serious violation that leads to immediate disqualification and may have legal consequences.
MTN Foundation Scholarship Maintenance Requirements
Winning the MTN Foundation scholarship is not a one-time event. It is a renewable annual award, but it comes with an ongoing academic condition. All scholarship recipients across all three categories must maintain the required CGPA for their category each academic session to have their scholarship renewed for the following year. For STS students at universities, this means maintaining a CGPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale or 3.5 on a 5.0 scale. For SBS students, the floor is lower: 2.5 at universities and colleges of education and 2.0 at polytechnics. If your CGPA drops below the required threshold in any session, your scholarship may not be renewed for the following session. This means the scholarship rewards both initial academic merit and ongoing academic commitment throughout your degree.
Tips for Secondary School Students Pursuing the MTN Scholarship
Here are the most practical things a secondary school student can do right now to position themselves for an MTN scholarship opportunity:
If your dream is the Top 10 UTME Scholarship, start treating your JAMB preparation with the seriousness of a career goal, not just a school exercise. The students who place in the top 10 nationally out of hundreds of thousands of UTME candidates in any given year are typically students who prepared with a focused intensity that most of their peers did not match. Begin your UTME preparation at least six to eight months in advance. Study each of your four subjects daily. Practice CBT past questions regularly. Work on your Use of English every single day because it is the one compulsory subject that appears in every candidate’s exam regardless of discipline. If your UTME score places you in the top 10 nationally, MTN Foundation will find you through JAMB’s records. You do not need to apply. But you need to earn that score first.
If music is your gift, begin working toward the ABRSM, MUSON, or Trinity College London Higher Pass Certificate in Music now. The MTN MUSON scholarship requires this certificate alongside your SSCE result. If you are in secondary school and you play an instrument or sing at a serious level, enquire at MUSON or contact a recognized ABRSM or Trinity examiner in your city about preparing for and sitting the relevant music examinations before you complete secondary school. Holding this certificate when applications open will put you in an excellent position to apply for the MTN MUSON Music Scholars Programme.
If your path is through the STS, your goal in secondary school should be to build the strongest possible foundation in mathematics and science subjects so that when you enter a public university and begin your STEM course, maintaining a CGPA above 3.5 on a 5.0 scale is achievable rather than a stretch. The MTN STS is awarded to students in their third year of university, which means you have two full years of undergraduate study to build up your academic record before you become eligible to apply. Using those two years to maintain excellent grades is entirely within your control.
Final Thoughts
The MTN Foundation has built one of the most impactful corporate scholarship ecosystems in Nigeria over the past two decades. While its main scholarship programs, the STS and SBS, are designed for undergraduate students who are already in their second and third years of tertiary education, the connection between those scholarships and secondary school is very real and very direct. The Top 10 UTME Scholarship is earned in secondary school, through years of academic preparation, on the day you sit your JAMB examination. The MTN MUSON Music Scholars Programme begins with your SSCE certificate. And the foundation you build in secondary school, in your CGPA, your science subjects, your English skills, and your personal academic discipline, is what will determine whether you qualify for and win the flagship STS scholarship once you reach 300 level.
So if you are a secondary school student who wants an MTN scholarship, the answer is not to wait for a separate secondary school MTN scholarship to appear. The answer is to start preparing right now for the examinations and academic performance levels that lead directly to MTN scholarship eligibility. Study hard for your JAMB. Excel in your WAEC science subjects. If music is your path, start sitting your ABRSM or MUSON examinations. And if you are already in university and reading this as a recent school leaver, visit apps.mtn.ng/scholarships and apply before the next deadline in April.
The scholarship is real. The money is real. And it starts with the choices you make in secondary school today.
