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The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has announced award of full scholarships to 49 Nigerians across all the zones under the NITDEF 2018/19 scholarship year.
NITDEF is the National Information Technology Development Fund Scholarship which is meant for Nigerian graduates, who have made a First Class or Second Class Upper in any IT related course. The scholarship covers only Msc and PhD. The scholarship scheme aims at promoting proficiency in Information Technology at doctorate and masters Levels. The scholarships are targeted at two persons per state including the FCT at masters’ level and one person per geo-political zone of the country at doctorate level. This will enhance human capacity building in core areas of Information Technology across Nigeria.
2018/2019 NITDEF scholarship list
For the NITDEF 2018/19 scholarship year, the 49 scholarships were awarded for masters and doctorate degrees in ICT and ICT Law through a highly competitive merit based process. One scholar was selected per state, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) at masters’ level; and one scholar was selected per political zone at doctorate level and MSc ICT Law.
The scholarship scheme was established in 2010 with the aim of bridging the digital divide through human capital development with emphasis on creating and supporting a knowledge-based economy.
The scholarship scheme is highly competitive and candidates are selected based on academic excellence and leadership qualities. Applicants go through rigorous and transparent selection process; holders of Bachelor’s degree with First Class or Second Class (Upper) Honours in any IT related field are eligible to apply for the MSc scholarships while only lecturers in any of the higher institutions of learning in the country with MSc in any IT related field are eligible to apply. After application, shortlisted candidates sit for a computer-based aptitude test and two candidates with the highest scores from each of the 36 states and the FCT final interview for the MSc while only one candidate per geopolitical zone is invited for the PhD scholarship.
According to the NITDA, the NITDEF is helping to address Nigeria’s ICT skills requirements to support President Muhammadu Buhari’s sustainable economic growth and development strides through the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP).
