Pan African organisation, Paradigm Initiative (PIN) has opened applications for the 2026 Taiwo Bankole Scholarship, which will provide full four-year university scholarships to 10 young people from Ajegunle, Lagos, to study Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) or Law at public institutions in Nigeria, RaveNewsOnline reports.
The new awards will support five young men and five young women aged 17–25, building on the scholarship’s existing support for 12 students from Ajegunle, the community that hosted PIN in its early days. The initiative aims to expand access to higher education for young people from underserved backgrounds, particularly those from low-income households.
To be eligible, applicants must be between 17 and 25 years of age, have secured admission to a public university in Nigeria to study a course in STEM or Law, and be residents of Ajegunle. Persons from low-income households are especially encouraged to apply.
The scholarship is premised on Paradigm Initiative’s desire to give back to the community where it started and the recognition that STEM and Law are critical to Africa’s future, from building the technologies that power everyday life to shaping the laws and policies that protect rights online and offline.
Yet many young people with the ability and ambition to pursue these fields are held back by the cost of tertiary education.
By investing in young men and women from Ajegunle in equal numbers, PIN aims to nurture a new generation of innovators, problem-solvers and advocates who can drive change in their communities and beyond.
Interested applicants can check out more details here. Applications close on 6 November 2026.
The Taiwo Bankole Scholarship honours the legacy of Taiwo Bankole Ogunyemi, a volunteer who played an important role in Paradigm Initiative’s early work in Ajegunle, Lagos.
Through his contributions to youth empowerment, digital skills development and community initiatives, Taiwo demonstrated a commitment to using knowledge and opportunity to improve lives.
Established under PIN’s Ajegunle Legacy Project, the scholarship continues this legacy by supporting young people from the community to access higher education and pursue their ambitions, regardless of financial barriers.
PIN’s continued investment in the Taiwo Bankole Scholarship underscores a commitment to ensuring that young people in under-served communities have a fair chance to access education, digital opportunities and the means to shape a more inclusive future.
