The Tosin Eniolorunda STEM Foundation has announced the launch of the Future Builders Fund, a scholarship initiative created to empower high-potential but under-resourced students across Nigeria.

This pilot program is designed to remove financial and structural barriers that prevent promising students from reaching their full potential in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) across Nigeria.

In recognition of the fact that nations need to strategically invest in preparing their youth to take advantage of the global digital economy,, the Tosin Eniolorunda STEM Foundation had donated a CAD/CAM laboratory worth over 100m naira to the Obafemi Awolowo University last year while supporting other initiatives that include Management Students Association of the University of Lagos Entrepreneurship Challenge, Nigenius Inter-School Robotics Competition, and NextGen Connect Interschool Oratory Competition valued at 50m naira.

The Future Builders Fund addresses a challenge facing Nigerian universities: while STEM programs have expanded and enrollment in fields like computer science and engineering has increased, many students face financial constraints that force them to abandon their studies. This scholarship program targets under-resourced students who possess the drive, intelligence, and builder’s mindset necessary to become Nigeria’s future innovators.

The vision behind the Future Builders Fund is premised in the belief that education is a powerful equalizer capable of turning raw potential into real solutions. “Every child deserves the opportunity to become the best version of themselves, and socioeconomic barriers should not be a roadblock to mastery and brilliance,” said Tosin Eniolorunda, founder of the Foundation. “We are launching the Future Builders Fund to find and nurture the innovators who will shape Nigeria’s future. This is a way of creating financial happiness leveraging the power of education to help students from low-income and under-resourced backgrounds gain mastery, giving them a fighting chance at being innovative change makers, who will develop life-changing solutions.”

The Future Builders Fund will sponsor 14 outstanding students—two per university—across seven federal universities, providing tuition support, hostel accommodation, a laptop, and a monthly stipend. In addition, scholars will benefit from ongoing mentorship and development programs designed to cultivate a solutions-oriented mindset throughout their academic journey.

For the pioneer cohort, the participating federal universities were selected across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, including Lagos. They are: Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife;  University of Nigeria, Nsukka; University of Calabar; University of Abuja; Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria; University of Maiduguri and University of Lagos.

The scholarship is open to STEM students entering 200 level (i.e., those who have completed 100 level) in the listed universities. Interested applicants are required to submit: Basic bio-data, Academic record (100 level transcript or statement of result) and a personal essay or statement of need

Applicants will be screened based on academic merit, clarity of purpose, and demonstrated need. From each university, the top 10 shortlisted candidates will sit for a standardized test assessing academic ability, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. The best two candidates per university will be awarded the Tosin Eniolorunda STEM Foundation Scholarship.

The Future Builders Fund is demonstrating a commitment to nurturing talent that can drive national development. Scholarship recipients will be assessed annually and renewal will be based on satisfactory academic performance and demonstrated growth in technical or leadership skills outside the classroom. This ensures the program supports students who are actively applying their knowledge to solve real-world problems.

This pilot edition of the initiative will lay the groundwork for a sustainable five-year, scalable scholarship program that exudes an innovative approach – financial support with mentorship, leadership development, and practical STEM skill application in a manner that can accelerate Nigeria’s cultivation of world-class STEM innovators. Applications which open immediately on this link: https://www.tosineniolorundafoundation.com/scholarshipapplication , will close on 16th of October, 2025.

Kaspersky researchers have uncovered a surge in scam emails where attackers impersonate major airlines and airports, including Amsterdam Schiphol, Lufthansa, Emirates Airlines, Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways and others, to trick businesses into engaging in fraudulent supplier and partnership communication. The goal of this scheme is to steal funds from the targeted organisations.

Since the beginning of September, Kaspersky solutions have detected and blocked thousands of scam emails of this type globally, and the volume of this type of fraud has increased compared to the previous months.

These fraudulent emails typically claim to come from the procurement departments of leading airlines, announcing new projects and looking for suppliers or contractors. Once the recipient responds, attackers send a series of fake documents, such as supplier registration forms and non-disclosure agreements, to appear credible.

Targeted organisations are also asked to pay the “Mandatory Refundable Expression of Interest Deposit” of several thousand USD, indicating that its purpose is “to secure a priority slot in the partnership timeline” and that it will be refunded once the “partnership” is established.

“Scammers are actively mimicking legitimate business communications. By impersonating world-famous airlines, they exploit both the brand trust and the business aspirations of their targets.

Since the documents shared in these schemes are not malicious, but simply forged, they can easily bypass basic security checks and seem believable to the untrained eye,” said Anna Lazaricheva, Senior Spam Analyst at Kaspersky.

Stakeholders in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector have identified agricultural technology (AgriTech) and open data platforms as essential tools for advancing Nigeria’s digital economy, particularly in promoting inclusion and improving rural development.

Speaking at the session titled “Design Workshops Building Productive Sectors: Investing in the Digital Economy” during the 31st Nigerian Economic Summit (NESG) in Abuja,

Toluwaleke Adenmosun, senior partner at Verraki, said agriculture offers an opportunity for digital transformation.

“Some groups proposed open data platforms to improve the sourcing of agricultural commodities, while others emphasized the use of AgriTech to simplify and formalize the agricultural value chain,” she said.

Adenmosun also raised concerns about the lack of transparency in tax and levy structures affecting businesses. She called for digital tools to streamline compliance.

“Industry players face challenges not only with formal taxes but also with various levies and charges. A simple platform that outlines required payments and confirms when they are made can be implemented quickly and would address this,” she said.

She added that successful implementation requires clear leadership, whether from the public or private sector.

“It’s not solely a government responsibility. Someone must take ownership, drive execution, and raise awareness among farmers and stakeholders,” she said.

Participants also noted the need for awareness campaigns, as many farmers remain unaware of digital tools that can boost productivity and improve market access.

Olabode Ojo, vice president of Global Independent Connect Limited (GICL), a subsidiary of IHS Towers Nigeria, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to expanding digital infrastructure in underserved areas.

“At GICL and IHS, our goal is to provide the infrastructure to support Nigeria’s digital economy,” said Ojo.

He noted that the company has deployed over 600 rural connectivity sites across 26 states and installed more than 16,000 kilometers of fiber optic cables, supporting mobile technologies such as 2G, 3G, and 4G.

“People in these areas now have access to education, healthcare, and digital financial services,” he said. “This supports broader development.”

Ojo also referenced government plans led by the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy to deploy 90,000 kilometers of fiber optic infrastructure and establish 7,000 rural telephony sites.

“These plans are ambitious but achievable,” he said. “We are ready to collaborate with the government to help make them a reality.”

While agriculture is not GICL’s core focus, Ojo acknowledged its role in the digital economy and the importance of infrastructure in enabling farmers’ access to data.

“These goals are within reach with collaboration from all stakeholders,” he said. “We must stay focused and work together to achieve them.”

With continued investment from both public and private sectors, stakeholders agreed that AgriTech, open data, and rural connectivity are vital to building a more inclusive digital economy in Nigeria.