BRAIN BUILDERS YOUTH DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE NATIONAL TERTIARY INSTITUTION ESSAY COMPETITION : AI LITERACY & RESPONSIBLE TECHNOLOGY USE

Application Deadline: 15 April 2026, 10:00 AM (WAT)

LOCATION: Nigeria

The Brain Builders Youth Development Initiative (BBYDI) invites students from tertiary institutions across Nigeria to enter a national essay competition on AI literacy and responsible technology use. This is an invitation to think critically, argue clearly, and contribute your perspective to one of the most important conversations shaping Nigeria’s future.

This competition is part of BBYDI’s AI Literacy for Everyday People in Nigeria project, supported by the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation. BBYDI is a youth-led Nigerian nonprofit and a leading voice on AI literacy, digital rights, and responsible technology use in Nigeria and across Africa

ELIGIBILITY:

Your essay should be grounded in the Nigerian context and demonstrate critical thinking, ethical awareness, and a practical understanding of how AI affects real people and communities. You may approach the theme from any angle, but your argument must be specific and well-evidenced, not a general overview of AI.

To be eligible, you must:

Be a current student at a recognised Nigerian tertiary institution (university, polytechnic, college of education, college of technology, monotechnic, school of nursing, or other diploma-awarding institution) with a verifiable student ID

Be between 18 and 30 years old

Submit an original, previously unpublished essay

Grant BBYDI the right to publish, excerpt, or reference your essay, with attribution, in its publications, learning resources, impact reports, and advocacy materials

Essay Requirements:

Word count1,200–1,500 words (excluding references)
LanguageEnglish
FormatTyped, Times New Roman, 12pt, double-spaced
StructureA clear argument with a logical progression, not a general survey of the topic

BENEFIT:

Prizes and Recognition:

1st Place₦400,000
2nd Place₦300,000
3rd Place₦200,000
Top 10 Finalists₦100,000 

Winners will be announced publicly, and the top essays will be featured in BBYDI’s publications and advocacy materials.

APPLY

UNIVERSITY OF GRONINGEN ERIC BLEUMINK FELLOWSHIP

Application Deadline: It is not possible to actively apply for an Eric Bleumink Fellowship Scholarship. Suitable candidates will be informed about a nomination.

LOCATION: The Netherlands

The University of Groningen Admission Office, in consultation with the Admission Boards of its faculties, will determine which applicants will be nominated for an Eric Bleumink Fellowship scholarship.

Only applicants who have received a provisional or unconditional admission offer for a master’s programme before February can thus be considered. 

ELIGIBILITY:


Afghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Chad, Comoros, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Kiribati, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Tanzania, Togo, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Yemen, Timor-Leste, South Sudan, Central African Republic, Zambia, Bolivia, Cape Verde, Congo, Ghana, Honduras, India, Korea, Dem. Rep., Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Morocco, Nigeria, Vietnam, Uzbekistan, Ukraine, Algeria, Cameroon, Congo (Dem Rep.), Egypt, Iran, Ivory Coast, Jordan, Kenya, Micronesia, Nicaragua, Niger, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Samoa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tajikistan, Tokelau, Tunisia, Zimbabwe, Lao People’s Democratic Republic

Candidates for the Eric Bleumink Fellowship should:

Have received provisional or unconditional admission for a master’s program before February. Only then will applicants be considered for a grant from the Eric Bleumink Fellowship (see: Master’s degree programmes )

Have excellent academic performance, preferably to be confirmed by letters of recommendation

Have excellent grades during their bachelor/undergraduate studies;

Have excellent English language proficiency, in accordance with the admission requirements of the program of choice

Be available for the whole period of the programme and be able to take part in the entire programme

Be in good health so that health insurance in the Netherlands can be arranged.

Hold the nationality of a country appearing in Appendix 1.

Have no other means of financing the study in question

In order to allow for enough time to process the application to a master programme by the Admission Office, such a master application should be completed by the applicant before 1st of December.

Only applicants who have received a provisional or unconditional admission offer for a master programme before February can thus be considered. In order to allow for enough time to process the application to a master programme by the Admission Office, such a master application should be completed by the applicant before 1st of December.

BENEFIT:

The grant is awarded for a 1-year or 2-year master’s degree programmes starting in September only.

The grant covers tuition fees, costs of international travel, subsistence, books, and health insurance. Please note that a considerable number of students apply for this scholarship each year, whereas the university can issue only a limited number of grants.

APPLY

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