GIAF Tertiary Education Scholarship 2026: Army Dependants
If you're a Nigerian tertiary student connected to the military, or you know someone who is, there's a scholarship opportunity worth paying close attention to this year: the GIAF Tertiary Education Scholarship 2026, run by the General Ibrahim Attahiru Foundation (GIAF).
This scholarship is part of a growing effort to support the children and dependants of Nigerian Army personnel, giving academically strong students a real shot at funding their university or polytechnic education.
Here's a full breakdown of what the program is, who qualifies, how to apply, and where to find the official application.
About the General Ibrahim Attahiru Foundation (GIAF)
The GIAF Scholarship is named after and inspired by the late Lieutenant General Ibrahim Attahiru, the 21st Chief of Army Staff (COAS) of the Nigerian Army, who passed away in a plane crash in May 2021.
The foundation was established in his memory to carry forward causes he cared about, chief among them education and the welfare of military families.
To mark the third anniversary of his passing, on 21st May 2024, the Foundation's Board launched the Education Scholarship Programme, targeting children and dependants of Army personnel and veterans studying in Nigerian tertiary institutions.
The scheme began with the 2024/25 academic session and has continued into subsequent intakes, including the current 2026 cycle. The programme isn't just about handing out money; it's built around a few guiding principles the foundation takes seriously:
Commitment to the public good: improving outcomes for Nigeria and Nigerians, without personal or profit motives.
Accountability: working directly with beneficiaries and answering to them.
Neutrality and impartiality: interventions guided by core humanitarian principles, not favouritism.
Who Is Eligible?
This is not an open scholarship for all Nigerian students: eligibility is fairly specific, so read this section carefully before you consider applying. To qualify for the GIAF Tertiary Education Scholarship 2026, you must:
Be a dependant of Nigerian Army personnel. This includes children/wards of serving, retired, or deceased Army personnel. If you are not connected to the Nigerian Army in this way, the Foundation is explicit that you should not apply.
Be enrolled in (or gaining admission into) a tertiary institution in Nigeria: university, polytechnic, or college of education.
Show exceptional academic performance, demonstrated through your O-level results (WAEC/NECO) and your JAMB result.
Come from any of Nigeria's six geopolitical zones: the programme is designed to be nationally representative, not concentrated in one region.
The Foundation also emphasises gender balance and inclusivity, meaning both male and female applicants are actively encouraged, and selection isn't skewed toward one gender.
Required Documents
Before you start your application, gather these documents. Missing or incorrect documents are one of the most common reasons applications get rejected:
Official JAMB Result Slip: This must be the genuine result slip. The foundation has explicitly warned against uploading a JAMB registration slip or a screenshot of an SMS result; neither of these will be accepted.
School Testimonial
Official WAEC or NECO Result
Official Admission Letter (from your tertiary institution)
A word of caution from the Foundation itself: every detail you submit must be accurate. Inconsistent or false information, even something as small as a mismatched name or date, can lead to automatic disqualification. Take the time to verify everything before you hit submit.
How to Apply
Here's how to go about your application:
Confirm your eligibility first. Make sure you're genuinely a dependent of serving, retired, or deceased Nigerian Army personnel before proceeding; this isn't a programme to apply to speculatively.
Gather your documents. Have digital (scanned or clearly photographed) copies of your JAMB result slip, school testimonial, WAEC/NECO result, and admission letter ready before you start.
Access the application form. GIAF accepts applications through an online form linked from its official scholarship page.
Fill in your details carefully. Enter your personal information, academic records, and details about your Army-affiliated parent/guardian exactly as they appear on your official documents.
Upload the required documents in the correct format; avoid substituting any document with an unofficial version (e.g., no JAMB registration slips or SMS screenshots).
Review before submitting. Since incorrect information leads to disqualification, go through every field one more time before you submit.
Wait for the screening and vetting process. Selection isn't automatic; GIAF reviews all applications thoroughly, checking documents and academic merit before shortlisting deserving candidates.
For dependants of serving, retired, or deceased Nigerian Army personnel who've worked hard to excel academically, this is a genuine chance to ease the financial burden of tertiary education and be recognised for that effort.