Selar to empower 150 Nigerian students with ₦10 million to stay in school

Selar, the e-commerce platform that helps African creators sell digital products online, is awarding ₦10 million in tuition grants to 150 Nigerian students through the third edition of its Smart Hustle Initiative.

The fund is divided into two categories. First, 50 final-year students from recognised universities and polytechnics will each receive ₦100,000. Second, 100 SS3 students who are preparing for WAEC and JAMB will each receive ₦50,000. Applications are open from February 24th to March 13.

For the first time since the programme launched, secondary school students are included, meaning Selar is now stepping in at two of the most financially punishing points in a Nigerian student’s academic life.

The fee hike that is pushing students out of school

Tuition costs in Nigeria have risen by as much as 200% in recent years. For families already stretched thin, that increase doesn’t just hurt; it ends a child’s education. And when education stops feeling like a realistic option, other paths start to look more appealing.

That’s the connection Selar is making directly. The company isn’t framing this as charity. Rather, it is a response to Nigeria’s fraud problem, the argument being that limited access to education and legitimate opportunity is part of what pushes young people in that direction in the first place.

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“There is so much to the fraud culture in Nigeria today, and the Smart Hustle Initiative is our response to it,” CEO Douglas Kendyson said.“Hopelessness is very dangerous for parents and students alike. If this fund can give them hope to keep their head up, it would be money well spent.”

Beyond the cheque: student requirements and application process

Selar isn’t stopping at grants. The company says the Smart Hustle Initiative is being built into a wider national programme, one that will include financial literacy training, media awareness, life skills, and partnerships designed to connect young Nigerians to legitimate digital income opportunities.

The specifics of that expansion are still taking shape, but the intent is clear: turn what is currently an annual grant into something that reaches more young people, more consistently, across more of the country.

For now, the requirements are straightforward.

University applicants must provide:

• Video statement of purpose
• Minimum CGPA of 3.0 or 65% cumulative grade
• Valid student ID
• Most recent academic transcript

SS3 applicants must provide:

• Video application
• Proof of current SS3 status or recent school results
• WAEC or JAMB registration documents

An independent committee reviews all submissions and notifies selected beneficiaries after the process.

Applications close March 13. Apply here

Selar is also calling for volunteers to help deliver the programme across communities. Volunteer here

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