STEM education strengthened as Moniepoint Founder launches future builders fund

…to support Nigeria’s digital economy agenda

The Tosin Eniolorunda STEM Foundation has launched the Future Builders Fund, a scholarship initiative designed to support high-potential but under-resourced students across Nigeria. The initiative aims to remove financial and structural barriers that prevent students from reaching their full potential in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

The Foundation said the launch of the Fund aligns with efforts to prepare Nigerian youth for opportunities in the global digital economy. Last year, the Foundation donated a CAD/CAM laboratory worth over ₦100 million to Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife. It has also supported other educational and innovation initiatives, including the Management Students Association of the University of Lagos Entrepreneurship Challenge, the Nigenius Inter-School Robotics Competition, and the NextGen Connect Interschool Oratory Competition, with a combined value of ₦50 million.

The Future Builders Fund seeks to address financial challenges faced by students in Nigerian universities, particularly those in STEM fields who struggle to complete their studies due to economic hardship. The scholarship targets students who demonstrate academic excellence, a problem-solving mindset, and a desire to contribute to Nigeria’s innovation landscape.

Speaking on the initiative, the Foundation’s founder, Tosin Eniolorunda, said: “Every child deserves the opportunity to become the best version of themselves, and socioeconomic barriers should not be a roadblock to mastery and brilliance. We are launching the Future Builders Fund to find and nurture the innovators who will shape Nigeria’s future. This is a way of creating financial happiness, leveraging the power of education to help students from low-income and under-resourced backgrounds gain mastery, giving them a fighting chance at being innovative change makers, who will develop life-changing solutions.”

The Fund will sponsor 14 students—two from each of seven federal universities—covering tuition, accommodation, a laptop, and a monthly stipend. Recipients will also participate in mentorship and leadership development programmes designed to build a solutions-oriented mindset throughout their studies.
For the first cohort, the participating universities are Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife; University of Nigeria, Nsukka; University of Calabar; University of Abuja; Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria; University of Maiduguri; and University of Lagos.

The scholarship is open to STEM students entering the 200 level in the listed universities. Applicants are required to submit basic bio-data, a 100-level transcript or statement of results, and a personal essay or statement of need. Selection will be based on academic performance, clarity of purpose, and demonstrated need. Shortlisted candidates—ten per university—will sit for a standardised test assessing academic ability, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. The top two from each university will receive the Tosin Eniolorunda STEM Foundation Scholarship.
Recipients will be evaluated annually, with renewal dependent on strong academic results and progress in leadership or technical skills. This approach is intended to ensure that beneficiaries apply their learning to practical challenges in their communities.

The Foundation said the Future Builders Fund is a pilot programme that will form the foundation for a five-year, scalable scholarship model combining financial aid, mentorship, and practical STEM engagement. Applications are open immediately via the Tosin Eniolorunda Foundation Scholarship website.