Zayna Shaw Foundation Women in STEM Scholarship 2026: For South West
Written by Admin | 31 Jul 2026
If you're a female undergraduate studying chemical engineering in Southwest Nigeria, there's a fully funded opportunity worth your attention this year.
The Zayna Shaw Foundation Women in STEM Scholarship 2026 (Phase 1) has officially opened applications, and it's shaping up to be one of the most targeted, mentorship rich scholarships available to Nigerian women in engineering right now.
About the Zayna Shaw Foundation
The scholarship is the flagship programme of the Zayna Shaw Foundation, founded by Engr. (Dr) Olaide Zayna Shaw. The Foundation's mission centres on closing the visibility and support gap for women in STEM fields, alongside broader work in education, health, and vocational skills development across Nigeria.
This particular scholarship is designed to help "future female engineers lead, innovate, and thrive" by combining direct financial support with structured, long term mentorship.
Who Can Apply?
This is a tightly scoped scholarship, so read the criteria carefully before applying. To be eligible, you must:
Identify as female
Be a Nigerian citizen (valid proof required)
Be an indigene of a South West Nigerian state (valid proof required)
Be enrolled in a recognised Federal or State University in Nigeria
Be studying chemical engineering specifically
Have completed at least one full academic year already
Hold a minimum CGPA of 4.0/5.0 (or its equivalent)
Be currently in your 2nd to 5th year of study
If you're outside the chemical engineering discipline or don't meet the residency and CGPA thresholds, this particular scholarship won't apply, but it's worth keeping an eye on the Foundation for future phases covering other fields.
What the Scholarship Offers
Beyond covering tuition related costs, the standout feature of this programme is its mentorship structure. Every selected scholar is paired with an experienced professional, referred to by the Foundation as a "Partner in Progress", who guides the scholar all the way into early career.
This pairing is meant to address a common gap in STEM scholarships: funding without long term career support.
Required Documents
When you apply, make sure you have the following ready:
A completed application form
A valid student ID card plus official identification (NIN or international passport)
Your latest academic transcript or result slip
A reference letter from a university professor
A personal statement (maximum 500 words) addressing three things:
Why did you choose engineering?
How the scholarship will support your academic and professional journey
Your vision as a future female engineer in Nigeria
Take the personal statement seriously; in a scholarship this specific and selective, it's often the deciding factor between similarly qualified candidates.
How to Apply
Gather all required documents listed above ahead of time.
Head to the official application page.
Complete the application form and upload your documents.
Submit your 500 word personal statement covering the three prompts.
Verify that your CGPA and residency proof are current and valid before submitting.
What makes this scholarship worth highlighting isn't just the funding; it's the deliberate focus on a narrow, underserved group (women studying chemical engineering in South West Nigeria) paired with real mentorship infrastructure.
If you meet the criteria, this is a strong opportunity to pursue, and given the "not specified" deadline, sooner is better than later.