TAGDev 2.0 Scholarship 2026/2027 at the University of Port Harcourt | Fully Funded by Mastercard Foundation

Omran Aburayya
1 day ago
6 min read

If you are a young Nigerian with a passion for agriculture, agribusiness, or food systems — and financial constraints have been standing between you and a university degree — then the applications you have been waiting for are officially open. The (RUFORUM), in partnership with the , is calling for applications for the TAGDev 2.0 Scholarship Programme for the 2026/2027 Academic Year at the (UniPort). This fully funded, comprehensive scholarship is designed to support academically talented but economically disadvantaged students — especially women, refugees, and persons with disabilities — who are committed to transforming Africa's agricultural landscape. From tuition and accommodation to a laptop, internship, and entrepreneurship training, this scholarship covers it all. The deadline is 1st June 2026, so begin your application without delay.

🎓 Scholarship Summary

Location: Port Harcourt, Rivers State,
Host Institution: (UniPort), in partnership with RUFORUM and
Study Level: Bachelor's (BSc) and Master's (MSc)
Target Group: Economically disadvantaged but academically competent Nigerian nationals and refugees residing in ; special encouragement for females, persons with disabilities, and applicants from conflict-affected areas
Fields of Study: Agricultural Economics, Agribusiness Management, Agricultural Extension and Development Studies, Animal Science, Food Science and Nutrition (BSc); Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, Agribusiness Management, Crop Science (MSc)
Value & Coverage: Fully Funded — tuition, accommodation, stipend, laptop, research costs, internship, community engagement, field attachment, workshop and conference costs, and entrepreneurship training
Duration: Full duration of the enrolled programme (renewable annually based on academic performance)
Application Deadline: 1st June 2026
Start Date: 2026/2027 Academic Year
Eligible To: Nigerian nationals; refugees and internally displaced persons residing in
Call ID: RU/2026 UNIPORT/TAGDEV2.0
Official Application Portal: https://rims2.ruforum.org
Contact: admissions.asec@uniport.edu.ng | mcf@ruforum.org

📚 Scholarship Overview

The has officially announced a call for applications for the 2026/2027 academic session under the Transforming African Agricultural Universities to Meaningfully Contribute to Africa's Growth and Development (TAGDev 2.0) Programme. The initiative, implemented by the (RUFORUM) in partnership with the and several African universities, aims to empower young Africans through education in agriculture and related fields. The TAGDev 2.0 Programme is a 10-year initiative (2023–2033) designed to strengthen universities and technical institutions across Africa, focusing on equipping students with skills to drive inclusive, equitable, and climate-resilient agricultural transformation.

Now in its second phase, TAGDev 2.0 builds on an earlier RUFORUM-Mastercard Foundation collaboration by expanding institutional reach and reinforcing a pipeline of technically skilled, locally embedded graduates who can contribute to food security and rural economic growth on the continent.

The is one of twelve partner universities across Sub-Saharan Africa and North Africa implementing this programme. The 2026/2027 cohort will be enrolled across twelve universities including Gulu University and Uganda Martyrs University in ; Egerton University and the University of Eldoret in ; Africa University in ; the University of the Free State in ; Malawi University of Science and Technology in ; the University of Port Harcourt in ; the University of Cape Coast in ; the University of Bamenda in ; the National University of Agriculture in ; and Université Mohammed VI Polytechnique in .

This is not simply a scholarship — it is a long-term commitment to producing transformative agricultural leaders in Africa. Successful scholars are expected to become champions of community development, job creators, and ambassadors of agricultural innovation upon graduation.

🧩 Programme Structure,

The TAGDev 2.0 scholarship at UniPort is built around a holistic academic and experiential learning model. Beyond classroom instruction, the programme integrates a rich set of activities designed to shape well-rounded agricultural professionals:

Academic Instruction — Students pursue fully structured undergraduate or postgraduate degree programmes in agricultural and related sciences at the .
Research Support — Scholars receive dedicated research funding to undertake studies relevant to African agricultural challenges.
Internship and Field Attachment — Practical, hands-on learning through organised industry and field placements is built into the programme, exposing scholars to real agricultural value chains.
Community Engagement — Scholars are expected to participate actively in outreach activities, applying their knowledge to solve problems in their communities throughout their studies.
Entrepreneurship Training — A dedicated component equips scholars with the mindset and skills to establish agri-based enterprises and create employment opportunities.
Workshop and Conference Participation — Scholars can attend relevant national and international academic workshops and conferences, with indirect costs covered by the RUFORUM Secretariat.
Laptop Provision — Each successful scholar receives a laptop to support their academic work.
Virtual Information Sessions — RUFORUM will communicate dates for key virtual information sessions for prospective and selected scholars in due course.

The scholarship is renewed annually based on satisfactory academic performance at a minimum grade B level. Scholars who retake more than four courses risk losing their award.

🎁 Scholarship Benefits & What is Covered

This is a full board, comprehensive scholarship. Here is the complete breakdown of coverage:

Full Tuition Fees — All academic fees for the duration of the programme
Monthly Living Stipend — Regular financial support for day-to-day needs
Hostel / Accommodation — On-campus housing costs fully covered
Laptop — Provided to every successful scholar
Research Costs — Funding for academic research activities
Internship and Field Attachment — Costs associated with industry and community placements
Community Engagement Activities — Support for outreach and service components
Workshop and Conference Costs — Including participation in international conferences, covered by the RUFORUM Secretariat
Entrepreneurship Training — Full access to training programmes designed to build business skills

ℹ️ Important Note: Students already holding any other scholarship are not eligible for this award. Anyone found to have a double scholarship will be automatically discontinued.

✅ Eligibility Criteria

To qualify for the TAGDev 2.0 Scholarship at the , applicants must meet the following conditions:

Nationality — Must be a Nigerian national or a refugee/internally displaced person residing in .
Economic Background — Must come from an economically disadvantaged, marginalized community, and/or a conflict or post-conflict area in .
Age Limits:
- Undergraduate applicants: below 25 years at the time of application (up to 30 for refugees/IDPs)
- Master's applicants: below 30 years at the time of application (up to 35 for refugees/IDPs)
Academic Recency:
- Must have completed secondary school or diploma not more than two years before this call (up to four years for refugees/IDPs)
Admission Requirement — Must meet and obtain admission into one of the eligible programmes at the .
Minimum Age for Undergraduate — Must be at least 16 years of age for undergraduate admission.
Interest and Commitment — Must demonstrate genuine interest in agriculture, agribusiness, and entrepreneurship; show leadership qualities; and have a clear commitment to community transformation and agricultural value chains.
No Existing Scholarship — Current recipients of any scholarship, including previous TAGDev awards, are not eligible.
Female candidates, refugees, and persons with disabilities are highly encouraged to apply.

Undergraduate Academic Requirements (BSc Programmes)

Five O-Level credits in GCE/SSCE/NECO in Mathematics, English Language, Chemistry, Biology or Agricultural Science, and any one of Physics, Economics, or Geography — at not more than two sittings
Pass the UTME with Use of English, Chemistry, Mathematics or Physics, and Biology or Agricultural Science
Select as first-choice institution during UTME registration
Pass the UniPort post-UTME screening exercise
Foreign applicants who meet the O-Level requirements are exempted from UTME and first-choice requirements

Postgraduate Academic Requirements (MSc Programmes)

Credit pass in English Language and Mathematics
At least a Second-Class Honours Bachelor's degree in the relevant discipline from UniPort or any recognised university
NYSC discharge certificate (for Nigerian applicants)

📝 Application Procedure

The application process runs in three stages for both undergraduate and postgraduate applicants.

Stage 1 — Express Interest (Google Form)

Fill in the initial interest Google Form using the following link: https://forms.gle/k8paAii6J6SWggQM9

Stage 2 — Apply for University Admission at UniPort

For Undergraduate (BSc) Applicants:

Apply through the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) portal at https://portal.jamb.gov.ng
Select UniPort as first-choice institution and sit for the UTME
Proceed to the UniPort post-UTME screening
More information at www.uniport.edu.ng

For Postgraduate (MSc) Applicants:

Apply through the UniPort School of Graduate Studies website at https://www.uniport-sgs.com

Stage 3 — Apply for the RUFORUM Scholarship via RIMS

Access the RUFORUM Information Management System (RIMS) at https://rims2.ruforum.org
Create an account by clicking "Register Here" and activate it via the email sent to you (check your spam/junk folder)
Log in with your email and password
Navigate to Calls > Scholarship Calls
Select Call ID: RU/2026/TAGDev-2.0/001
Click Apply and begin filling the application form — remember to click "Save Draft" regularly
Download, print, and submit the completed form together with your UniPort admission application (either in hard copy or via the university's online portal)

For technical assistance: mcf@ruforum.org

📁 Documents Required

For Undergraduate Applicants:

O-Level certificate / Statement of Result
Birth certificate or affidavit of age declaration
Marriage certificate or newspaper publication for change of name (if applicable)
Local government identification letter (Nigerians) or international passport (foreigners)
Receipts of payment for application forms

For Postgraduate Applicants:

Copies of degree certificate(s)
NYSC discharge certificate (Nigerians only)
O-Level certificate
Birth certificate or affidavit of age declaration
Marriage certificate or newspaper publication for change of name (if applicable)
Local government identification letter (Nigerians) or international passport (foreigners)
Receipts of payment for application forms

✨ Extra Tips & Important Notes

This scholarship is genuinely transformational. Beyond funding your education, it equips you with entrepreneurship skills, research experience, and international exposure that most Nigerian graduates never access.
Applications are explicitly prioritised for women, refugees, internally displaced persons, and applicants with disabilities, reflecting a wider Mastercard Foundation commitment to equity-centred higher education access across the continent.
Successful scholars are expected to remain in communication with RUFORUM and their university as part of the Programme Alumni network — a powerful professional community across twelve African countries.
Falsification of any document will lead to immediate disqualification, and misconduct during studies — including examination malpractice — results in automatic loss of the scholarship.
Virtual Information Session dates will be communicated by RUFORUM in due course. Follow RUFORUM's official channels to stay updated.
The TAGDev 2.0 Programme runs until 2033, meaning this scholarship has long-term institutional backing and a robust support structure.