If you are an Oyo State indigene in a Nigerian university, polytechnic or college, you have a short window to apply for the 2026 Senator Abiola Ajimobi Foundation (SAAF) Scholarship. The listing we reviewed gives the deadline as 5 November 2026. That is about nine days from today, so this is a post to act on, not bookmark.
Everything below about the award comes from the scholarship listing on Scholarship Region, which describes the official application. Check the live SAAF application page before you submit, because details can change.
What the scholarship is
SAAF is an educational support grant for students at undergraduate and postgraduate level in Nigerian tertiary institutions. The listing describes the foundation's mission as improving the quality of education and promoting peace among Nigerians.
| Detail | What the listing says |
|---|---|
| Award type | Grant |
| Amount | Up to ₦150,000 |
| Level | Undergraduate and postgraduate |
| Study location | Nigeria |
| Deadline | 5 November 2026 |
| Essay | No essay, but a personal statement is required (max 500 words) |
| Language test | Not required |
Note the wording "up to" ₦150,000. Do not plan your fees around receiving the full figure.
Who can apply
The listing gives four requirements. You must:
- Be an Oyo State indigene.
- Be enrolled in an accredited tertiary institution in Nigeria.
- Demonstrate academic excellence.
- Show financial need.
The first one trips people up. Being resident in Oyo State, or studying at an Oyo school, is not the same as being an indigene. Your local government of origin, usually shown on a state-of-origin or local government identification letter, is what counts. If you are unsure how the foundation verifies this, check the official page or ask through its listed channels before relying on it.
The listing also shows a very long list of eligible courses (over a thousand). It displays only part of it, so open the full list on the application page and confirm yours is there.
Documents to prepare
- Application form, completed online.
- Academic transcript. If you do not have a recent one, start the request now. Our guide on getting transcripts and certificates from a Nigerian university explains how, though with a 5 November deadline you may need to ask for a quick result printout.
- Reference letter from your HOD, signed and stamped. This is the slowest item, since it depends on another person.
- Personal statement of not more than 500 words.
How to apply, step by step
- Open the SAAF webpage through the link on the official listing.
- Click "Apply for SAAF Grant".
- Fill in the form and upload your documents.
- Submit before the closing date.
- Shortlisted candidates are contacted for further processing, so use a phone number and email you check daily.
A realistic plan for the next nine days
This is a hypothetical schedule, adjust it to your situation.
- Day 1: Visit your department office. Ask for the HOD letter, and bring a short note listing your name, matric number, level, CGPA and what the letter is for. Make it easy to sign.
- Day 1-2: Request your transcript or result printout.
- Day 2-4: Draft the personal statement.
- Day 5: Scan documents clearly. Check file sizes and formats against what the form asks.
- Day 6-7: Submit. Do not wait for the last evening, when sites slow down and power cuts hurt.
If your HOD is travelling or busy, the approach in our post on asking a busy boss for a strong recommendation letter works just as well for lecturers.
Writing a 500-word personal statement that fits this grant
The two selection ideas are academic excellence and financial need, so give evidence for both. Do not just say you are hardworking and poor.
- Paragraph 1: Who you are, your course, your level, your Oyo State link.
- Paragraph 2: Academic proof: your CGPA, a class position, a project, an award, anything verifiable that matches your transcript.
- Paragraph 3: Your financial situation in plain facts. For example, who pays your fees, what changed, and what specific costs are at risk. Stay honest and specific.
- Paragraph 4: What the money would let you do, and what you plan to do with your degree for your community or Nigeria.
Keep it under 500 words. Read it aloud once, and have someone check spelling.
Common mistakes
- Applying without being an indigene. It wastes your time and the review.
- An unstamped HOD letter. The listing says signed and stamped.
- Exaggerating hardship. Claims that do not match your documents can hurt you.
- Using a middleman. The listing says you apply through the SAAF page. Never pay anyone to "secure" the grant. See our guide to spotting fake scholarship agents and paid-for-award scams.
- Relying on a re-posted listing. Always apply from the foundation's own page.
Frequently asked questions
Is this open to students outside Nigeria?
No. The listing says eligible country and host country are both Nigeria, and you must be enrolled in a Nigerian institution.
Do I need to write an essay?
The listing says no essay is required, but a personal statement of up to 500 words is among the documents. Treat that as the writing task.
Will I get the full ₦150,000?
The listing says support of up to ₦150,000. The exact amount per winner is not stated, so wait for the foundation's confirmation.
What if I miss the deadline?
Watch the foundation's channels for future rounds, and meanwhile look at other local awards such as the NNPC/SNEPCo University Scholarship.
Your next step today
Go to your department office and request the stamped HOD letter first. Everything else you can do from your phone, but that letter takes the longest.
Sources
Details checked against the official sources above on 27 October 2026. Things change, so confirm on the official site before you act.
Scholarship details, deadlines and eligibility can change. Always confirm on the official website before applying, and never pay anyone who promises to "guarantee" a scholarship.