Bet9ja Foundation Scholarship & Grants (2026)

A betting company funding scholarships and building boreholes across Nigeria. That's not what most people expect.1

But here's what the numbers show. The Bet9ja Foundation (the CSR arm of Bet9ja) has invested over ₦1.2 billion in community initiatives across 36 states and the FCT, impacting 100,000+ Nigerians.18

Founded by Kunle Soname's KC Gaming Networks, the foundation operates across five pillars: healthcare, education, sports development, community infrastructure, and youth empowerment.1

The foundation's vision? To become a leading force in Corporate Social Investment (CSI) in Nigeria, recognized for transformative projects that uplift citizens and local communities.3

The cumulative ₦1.2 billion figure tells the long-term story. But the 2025 Impact Report (covering Q3 2024 through Q2 2025) reveals just how much the foundation accelerated in a single reporting period.8

Here's the thing. In that one year alone, the Bet9ja Foundation invested ₦680 million, reached 55,000+ Nigerians across 34 states and the FCT, and executed 88 initiatives.8

The Sports Development pillar is particularly notable. It includes para-powerlifting programmes, making it one of the few Nigerian corporate foundations investing in adaptive sports.8

In May 2026, the foundation committed ₦40 million to the second edition of the Bet9ja Foundation Ex-Internationals Cup, a Lagos State FA tournament celebrating former Super Eagles stars. Executive Director Gloria Ada Cuomo and Marketing Manager Omotola Oronti led the partnership with LSFA Chairman Hajji Gafar Liameed.25

Under Youth Empowerment, the GEES 2.0 summit attracted 900+ registrations, more than doubling the inaugural edition's turnout.8

Executive Director Ada Cuomo summarised the foundation's direction: the focus going forward is to scale digital empowerment, deepen healthcare access, advance inclusive education, and align all initiatives with ESG and SDG frameworks.8

On March 12, 2026, the Bet9ja Foundation donated 3,000 mattresses to Nigerian Police Colleges nationwide. The presentation took place at Nigeria Police Force Headquarters, Abuja.18

Here's the thing. This isn't a token gesture. Police college cadets across Nigeria sleep on bare bunks or worn-out foam. Three thousand mattresses, distributed to colleges in every geopolitical zone, represents one of the largest single welfare donations to the Nigerian Police Force from a private foundation.18

Dr. Ayo Ojuroye (MD/CEO of Bet9ja and Trustee of the Foundation) presented the donation alongside Ada Cuomo (Executive Director). Inspector General of Police Olatunji Rilwan Disu received the donation on behalf of the Force.18

The donation falls under the foundation's Community Infrastructure pillar, the same pillar responsible for borehole construction, school renovations, and road repairs across rural communities.18

Why does this matter? Because it shows the foundation expanding beyond education and healthcare into welfare infrastructure for public institutions. Police colleges are chronically underfunded, and this intervention addresses a basic dignity gap that affects thousands of cadets in training.

On Good Friday, April 3, 2026, the Bet9ja Foundation hosted the third edition of its flagship wellness initiative, the Fitness Festival 3.0, at Delta Mall, Warri.23

Here's the thing. What started as a one-off fitness event in 2024 has become one of the Niger Delta's most anticipated community wellness platforms. The 3.0 edition welcomed over 700 participants, continuing a year-on-year growth trajectory since the inaugural edition.23

From 6:00 AM, participants were immersed in aerobics, HIIT, Afro Dance, Tabata, Zumba, and yoga sessions led by 14 coaches. The highlight was the Inter-Gym Challenge, where fitness communities across Warri competed for bragging rights. Mazino Gym emerged as champion.23

But that's not all. Beyond the physical activities, over 300 free medical screenings were conducted on-site, a direct expression of the foundation's commitment to preventive healthcare and holistic wellbeing.23

Omotola Oronti, Manager of Marketing & Communications at the Bet9ja Foundation, said: "With each edition, we are building more than an event — we are building a culture. Seeing over 700 people show up, move together, and prioritise their wellbeing is a powerful reminder that change is possible when we create the right platforms."23

Why does this matter? Because the festival falls under the foundation's Healthcare pillar, the same pillar that delivered 23 interventions reaching 8,905 beneficiaries in the 2025 Impact Report. Community-based wellness events like this bridge the gap between clinical healthcare and everyday fitness habits.

ThisDay framed the 3rd edition as part of "a growing movement for health and wellness" in the Niger Delta. With three consecutive years of attendance growth, the Warri Fitness Festival is now the foundation's longest-running annual community wellness platform.23

The Bet9ja Foundation remains the major sponsor of the Victor Ikpeba 5-A-Side Football Challenge, now entering its sixth edition in Surulere, Lagos.26

Here's the thing. The 2026 tournament has attracted two new corporate partners: Prostar (Zenith Sports), the indigenous sports equipment manufacturer, and Evomec Global Services Limited, led by High Chief Peter Esievo.26

The tournament runs at the Community Centre on Fujah Street, Surulere, and ends on June 12, 2026, with eight grassroots teams already confirmed.26

Prostar CEO Chief Paul Maduakor said the brand had "been watching from the sidelines" before deciding to step in. Evomec joined the Warri leg in December 2025 and is expected to play a bigger role in the 2026 Delta State edition.26

Why does this matter? 1997 African Footballer of the Year Victor Ikpeba said the bigger prize pot is designed to keep more Lagos and Delta youth "off the street with something tangible," directly reinforcing the foundation's sports development and youth empowerment pillars.26

Big John FC won the 2026 Victor Ikpeba Football Challenge, beating LB United 2-0 in the final at Fujah Street Community Ground, Obele Odan, Surulere, Lagos.30

Odogwu FC took third place, edging Gantos FC 2-1 on penalties after a goalless draw in regulation time. Despite early morning rainfall, the weather cleared in time for a deserved win in front of an enthusiastic crowd.30

Afeez Salami of Big John FC was named Most Valuable Player. Teammate John Ozemohya finished as the tournament's top scorer with three goals.30

Tournament organiser Victor Ikpeba, the 1997 African Footballer of the Year and former AS Monaco striker, spoke a day after the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicked off in the United States, Canada and Mexico, a tournament Nigeria failed to qualify for.30

"Some of us started from this grassroots level and, with the help of God, made it to the European leagues and the World Cup," Ikpeba said. "It gives me great joy and fulfilment to see young players dedicating themselves and striving to succeed in competitions like this."30

The final attracted football personalities and community leaders including former Barcelona defender Gbenga Okunowo, Sporting Lagos chairman Godwin Enakhena, Obele Odan Community chairman Pastor Adetola Adelagun, and Leonard Okeke of Bet9ja.30

New partner Prostar rewarded spectators with prizes through interactive games. The late journalist Dapo Sotuminu's family also attended; he played a key role in organising the first four editions.30

Why does this matter? Organisers confirmed the sixth edition moves to Warri in December 2026, extending the Foundation's grassroots football pipeline from Lagos into the Niger Delta. Readers funding youth sport this way can also explore the wider Bet9ja promotion code hub.30

Day 2 of the Round of 32 at the Bet9ja Foundation Ex-Internationals Cup delivered two away wins, with both first legs tilting the ties.27

At the National Stadium Surulere Mainbowl, FC Ogunlade edged FC Amoo 1-0. Ayo capitalised on a goalkeeper error in the 47th minute, handing Ogunlade a slim first-leg lead.27

At Maracana, FC Nieketien routed FC Edema 3-0. Abubakar Abdullah converted a 29th-minute penalty after a handball, Sylvester Emeka finished from close range in the 58th, and Terryson Ouiruo headed in from a corner in the 83rd.27

Why does this matter? The Ex-Internationals Cup is the Foundation's flagship grassroots football pipeline, backed by ₦40M in 2026, and the Round of 32 is where Lagos community sides start converting that funding into competitive fixtures.27

FC Udeze booked a place in the Round of 16 of the Bet9ja Foundation Ex-Internationals Cup after winning on penalties, extending the tournament's knockout drama into its second week.31

Why does this matter? Penalty shootouts at this stage tighten the spread of community sides reaching the latter rounds, exactly the competitive depth the Foundation's ₦40M backing was designed to fund.31

Last verified: 27 June 2026.

The Round of 16 of the Bet9ja Foundation Ex-Internationals Cup delivered six fixtures, with FC Ipaye, FC Obafemi, FC Giwa and FC Nieketien advancing, and two ties left open.32

FC Ogunlade and FC Ipaye finished 3-3 on aggregate. Ipaye then took the shootout 4-2 to reach the quarter-finals.32 FC Obafemi edged FC Omoruyi 2-1, and at Legacy Pitch FC Giwa beat FC Odiaka 2-1 for a 4-2 aggregate win.32

In-form FC Nieketien kept their streak going with a 3-1 win over FC Udeze. FC Dominic versus FC Babington ended 0-0, and FC Oloyede drew 1-1 with FC Alloy, leaving both ties poised for the return leg.32

Why does this matter? The Round of 16 is where the ₦40M Foundation backing translates into the highest-stakes community fixtures of the calendar, and three of the six ties advanced on fine margins.32

Last verified: 13 July 2026.

FC Babington and FC Enegwea booked the last two places in the Bet9ja Foundation Ex-Internationals Cup final, closing the tournament's semi-final round in Lagos.33

At Mobolaji Johnson Arena, FC Babington drew 2-2 with FC Alloy but advanced 4-3 on aggregate under coach Bode Babington.33

At Gospel City, FC Enegwea beat FC Okpara 2-1 for a 7-4 aggregate win. Dan Azumi opened the scoring in the 7th minute from a corner. Dauda Taiwo equalised for FC Okpara in the 10th, before Gani Olaniyan converted a 67th-minute penalty after Ikechukwu Emma was fouled by Isaac Peter.33

The final pits FC Babington against Taiwo Enegwea's FC Enegwea at Mobolaji Johnson Arena, with the date to be confirmed.33

Why does this matter? The final marks the payoff of the Foundation's ₦40M 2026 backing: two Lagos community sides funded through grassroots pipelines now compete for the trophy at a major stadium.33

Bet9ja Founder and Chairman Kunle Soname serves as Chief Launcher at the public presentation of Perspectives on Sports Development in Nigeria: Challenges and Ways Forward, at the VIP Lounge of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, on Thursday, June 18, 2026, from 12:00 noon.28

Senator John Owan Enoh, Minister of State for Industry and immediate past Minister of Sports Development, chairs the occasion. The author is Dr. Emmanuel Edem Ikpeme, NFF Deputy General Secretary and Super Eagles sports psychologist.28

Ikpeme contributed to back-to-back Super Eagles podium finishes: silver at AFCON 2024 and bronze at AFCON 2026. NSC Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko, DG Bukola Olopade, FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, and governors Bassey Otu, Hope Uzodinma, and Babajide Sanwo-Olu are among expected dignitaries.28

Why does this matter? Soname's role as Chief Launcher places Bet9ja's founder at the centre of Nigerian sports policy alongside a sitting federal minister, reinforcing the operator's standing inside the official sports development ecosystem.28

At Gamble Alert's 2026 Responsible Gaming Symposium in Lagos, Bet9ja Head of Legal and Compliance Akande Adewale urged operators to keep influencer messaging "balanced and objective".29

Adewale called out competitors that fabricate winner claims to induce play: "At Bet9ja, we don't disclose our winners, even though we've seen some leverage on that daily to induce their customers."29

Wider panel takeaways: Lagos LSLGA CEO Bashir Are highlighted the SafePlay national self-exclusion tool. Oyo DG Olajide Boladuro centred player welfare. Ghana Gaming Commission's Bashiru Donbine cited the Ghana Card as the backbone of KYC enforcement.29

Why does this matter? Bet9ja's public stance against manipulative winner-bait marketing is a verifiable responsible-gambling trust signal, distinct from operators that lean on fabricated payout claims to drive registrations.29

In 2026, Bet9ja won the Social Impact Award at the Africa Gaming Expo (AGE), the continent's flagship gaming industry conference.24

Here's why this matters. The AGE awards are voted by industry peers and judged on measurable community outcomes, not marketing spend. The recognition validates the foundation's ₦1.2B+ invested across 220+ projects in 36 states and the FCT.24

The Bet9ja Foundation scholarship provides full tuition for students at public Nigerian universities. No partial coverage: the foundation pays your entire school fees.4

Why does this matter? Because the scholarship is open across five fields of study: Humanities, Administration, Law, Medicine, and STEM.4

Beneficiaries have publicly shared their experiences. One student at Lagos State University wrote: "Your generosity has significantly eased my financial burden, allowing me to focus on my studies."4

Here's where most applicants get tripped up. The CGPA requirement is 4.0 and above, not 3.0, not 3.5. This is higher than most Nigerian corporate scholarships.4

The application is entirely online. There is no application fee. If anyone asks you to pay, it's a scam.4

1. Check eligibility: confirm you meet all requirements before starting.
2. Prepare documents: school ID card, last school fees receipt, endorsement letter, and transcript showing current CGPA.
3. Submit online form: complete the application and upload all required documents at bet9jafoundation.org/scholarship.
4. Await decision: shortlisted candidates are contacted directly.

The foundation doesn't just fund students. It also funds businesses. The ScaleUp Business Accelerator 2.0 offers ₦3 million grants to 10 businesses, plus an additional ₦2 million for the Best Pitch Award.521

But that's not all. In March 2026, the foundation relaunched ScaleUp as a full 10-week business accelerator offering non-dilutive (equity-free) funding.20 That means founders inject capital without surrendering ownership or control.

The Three-Pillar Framework

The 2026 accelerator is built on three pillars designed to ensure long-term business viability:20

Eligibility for the ScaleUp Accelerator:

Eligible industries (13 sectors officially listed for ScaleUp 2.0):21

Apply at bet9jafoundation.org/scaleup/apply.21

The Graduate Employability and Enterprise Summit (GEES) is a one-day event designed to equip recent graduates with job-market skills. It's now in its second edition.6

Here's the thing. GEES isn't just talks and panels. The 2025 edition (GEES 2.0) focused on "Digital Economy: Getting youths ready for the Digital workspace," with 400+ attendees, 20+ speakers, and ₦2M+ in cash prizes.6

Subscribe at bet9jafoundation.org/gees for updates on the next edition.

Here's the thing. The annual impact reports only capture a single year. But zoom out, and the cumulative picture is staggering.

According to BusinessDay, the Bet9ja Foundation has empowered 65,000 beneficiaries across 31 states in just two years, through 1,800 projects spanning five pillars: education, healthcare, community infrastructure, youth empowerment, and sport.7

But that number has since grown. A January 2026 Premium Times report confirmed the foundation has now completed over 206 projects across 33 states and the FCT, including 100 undergraduate scholarships awarded to students at public universities.8

The Premium Times report also highlighted healthcare interventions, solar-powered streetlights, and water supply systems as key infrastructure deliverables. The foundation's sports pillar now includes equipment support for the Para-Powerlifting squad, making it one of the few Nigerian corporate foundations investing in adaptive sports.8

Executive Director Ada Cuomo highlighted partnerships with state governments and NGOs as the engine behind this reach. The foundation doesn't operate in isolation. It co-delivers with local partners on the ground.7

But that's not all. The foundation also runs targeted youth programmes including the Young Executive Program (YEP) and the Scale-Up Accelerator, both designed to build employable skills and entrepreneurial capacity.7

On the infrastructure side, projects include solar power donations to communities and artisan empowerment kits: clippers, hairdryers, and sewing machines distributed to tradespeople across multiple states.7

The three-year goal? Reach all 36 states and the FCT, closing the gap in the remaining states not yet covered.7

The foundation's project portfolio spans all six geopolitical zones. In 2025 alone: Q1 saw 29 projects across 14 states, Q2 added 21 projects across 13 states, and Q3 delivered 28 projects across 20 states.2

Recent projects include: medical equipment donations to Primary Health Centres, community dental care outreach, solar street light installations in Sokoto, borehole systems in Ogun State, women's U-20 football competitions, and vocational training for self-reliance.7

2023/2024 Impact Report: ₦534 Million in Year One

The foundation's inaugural 2023/2024 Impact Report (covering the first year of operations) reveals the scale of investment from day one.16 In just 12 months, the foundation deployed ₦534 million+ across 132 projects in 29 states and 150+ communities.

Chairman Kunle Soname framed the mission clearly in the report: "Our lives are primarily driven by the need to make a difference, and on this principle, humanity thrives."16 CEO Ayo Ojuroye emphasised the foundation's commitment to supporting government efforts in infrastructure, healthcare, and youth empowerment.

The foundation publishes annual impact reports. The 2025 Impact Report and the 2023/2024 Impact Report are available on bet9jafoundation.org/reports.

Use only verified channels for foundation inquiries. Here's the official contact information.1

For questions about Bet9ja's corporate structure, see our Who Owns Bet9ja page. For betting-related support, visit our customer care guide.

Numbers tell one story. But here's what the scholarship actually looks like for a real student.

Daniel Nnamani, a UNILAG student with a 4.93 CGPA, applied to multiple scholarship programmes before finding one that said yes. He was rejected by both the Jim Ovia Foundation and the Bridge scholarship, despite his near-perfect academic record.9

Then the Bet9ja Foundation came through. Daniel was selected as one of 150 recipients in the foundation's scholarship cohort, receiving full tuition coverage that allowed him to focus entirely on his studies.9

Why does this matter? Because it shows the foundation isn't just writing cheques. It's filling gaps that other programmes miss, reaching high-performing students who fall through the cracks of more established schemes.

The ScaleUp Business Pitch Challenge delivered its most significant outcome yet in May 2025. Martech Store won the ₦10 million grand prize, the largest single grant in the programme's history.9

Here's how it worked. 10 startups entered a 4-month accelerator programme featuring 25+ hours of structured learning and access to 15+ expert mentors.9 The programme culminated in a Demo Night pitch, and Martech Store emerged as the winner.

Why does this matter? Because the ScaleUp Challenge isn't a one-off competition. It's a structured pipeline, from application to accelerator to Demo Night to post-programme support. That's a fundamentally different model from most Nigerian corporate grant schemes.

Here's the context most scholarship pages won't give you. The same university campuses where the Bet9ja Foundation awards scholarships are also where student betting is at its highest.

A June 2025 study at Niger Delta University found that 70.5% of surveyed students engage in sports betting. Of those, 35% bet daily and 89% have suffered financial losses.12

But there's a counterpoint. A University of Port Harcourt study found that 60% of student bettors set personal time limits, and 55% avoid betting entirely during term time.13 Peer accountability groups showed a measurable reduction in problem gambling indicators.

Why does this matter for the foundation? Because scholarships do more than pay tuition. They give students a reason to prioritise academics over short-term bets. When 75% of student bettors say betting contributes to academic decline12, full tuition coverage becomes a protective factor.

A Kwara State universities study confirms the information gap: 87.9% of undergraduate bettors use the internet to access betting information14. Only 63.2% are aged 21-25, meaning a significant portion start even younger. The foundation's education pillar directly addresses this vulnerability.

Among student-athletes specifically, a University of Nigeria Nsukka study found that 12.7% meet the criteria for problem gambling using the Problem Gambling Severity Index.15 This is the first Nigerian study on student-athletes, and the clinical significance of that rate underscores the need for targeted interventions.