2027 Dr Gabriel Olubunmi Fakeye Scholarship and Bursary Award: How to Apply

Reviewed by Miles Obi

If you are a member of the Cherubim and Seraphim Movement Church and you study at a Nigerian public university, polytechnic or college of education, the Pro. Dr. Gabriel Olubunmi Fakeye Scholarship and Bursary Award is worth reading about before you spend time on any other church-linked award. It pays cash toward undergraduate study, it runs every year, and the 2027 round is currently open. This guide explains what the award pays, who is eligible, which documents you need, how the selection works, and how to confirm the portal is still taking applications.

What the award is

The award is named after Prophet (Dr.) Gabriel Olubunmi Fakeye, the late first chairman and general leader of the Cherubim and Seraphim Movement Church, Ayo Ni O, Surulere District. It is run by the church’s Surulere District headquarters in Lagos and is aimed at indigent undergraduates who belong to the district or one of its branches. Local reports say the scheme began in 2021 with five awardees and has grown since then, with a tenth memorial lecture and awards event held in March 2025.

The official application website is gofscholarship.candsyf.org. The district’s contact address for the scheme is gofscholarship@candsyf.org. Use those two channels for anything about the award. If you find a different website or a social media account asking for money, do not use it.

What the 2027 round pays

According to the 2027 listing on the official portal and independent summaries of it, the award has two tiers:

• Scholarship Award: 2 beneficiaries, ₦300,000 each, minimum CGPA of 3.5.
• Bursary Award: 40 beneficiaries, ₦100,000 each, minimum CGPA of 3.0.

That is 42 awards in total. For comparison, the March 2025 event reported last cycle’s amounts as ₦250,000 for each of two scholarships and ₦60,000 for each of 40 bursaries. The 2027 amounts are higher, so check the official portal for the figures printed on the current application page before you plan around them. Winners are paid directly into the bank account they provide in the application.

Who can apply

You must meet every one of these conditions:

• You are a member of the Cherubim and Seraphim Movement Church, Surulere District or one of its branches. Membership is the main gate, and the district verifies it through your branch.
• You are an undergraduate student at a Nigerian public tertiary institution.
• You are in financial need. The award is for indigent students, so be ready to show that your family cannot easily cover your fees.
• You have a current CGPA of at least 3.5 for the scholarship tier or at least 3.0 for the bursary tier.

Your CGPA decides which tier you can apply under. If your result is strong, aim for the scholarship tier, but you must still meet the bursary cut-off to be considered at all. Check your latest result before you start the form.

Documents you need

Every document is uploaded online. Each file must be no larger than 5MB, and the document formats are PDF, DOC or DOCX. Prepare these before you open the form:

• Admission letter, plus your last academic result or current CGPA, signed by an authorised officer of your institution. A scanned copy with the official stamp is clearer than a photograph of the page.
• A recommendation letter from your Branch Leader, in PDF, DOC or DOCX format. If you cannot obtain one, the form asks you to state the reason. Speak to your leader early, because this letter is often the slowest item to collect.
• A passport photograph in JPG, PNG or JPEG format, with a clear face and a plain background.

Scan each document at a readable resolution. A blurred result sheet or a cropped stamp can delay verification, so check every upload before you submit.

How to apply, step by step

1. Confirm your church membership and branch, and check with your Branch Leader that they can support your recommendation.
2. Check your current CGPA against the 3.5 and 3.0 cut-offs and choose the tier you qualify for.
3. Gather your admission letter, signed result, recommendation letter and passport photograph in the formats listed above.
4. Open gofscholarship.candsyf.org, create an account, and complete the application form with accurate personal, academic and bank details.
5. Upload every document and review the form before you submit.
6. Submit and keep the confirmation or reference number. Save a copy of everything you uploaded.

What happens after you submit

The district checks your documents with your institution and your church band captain to confirm your eligibility and the accuracy of your CGPA. Shortlisted candidates are then invited to an examination and an interview. A panel makes the final award decisions. Approved awards are paid directly to beneficiaries through the bank details given in the application.

Because the selection has several stages, do not assume that a submitted form is a confirmed award. Keep your reference number and check your email and the official portal regularly for any request for more information.

Common mistakes that cost applicants a place

• Using a CGPA from an old result. The cut-off applies to your current, verified figure.
• Uploading an unsigned result or an admission letter without the institution’s authorised signature.
• Leaving the branch leader recommendation blank without giving a reason.
• Submitting a file over the 5MB limit, which the portal will not accept.
• Waiting until the last few days. Portal delays and weak internet connections are common near deadlines.

Deadline and how to confirm the portal is open

For the 2027 round, the official listing and independent summaries give the closing date as 4 December 2026. Earlier cycles closed on different dates, so do not rely on an old deadline from a previous year. To confirm whether the portal is currently open and accepting applications, go directly to gofscholarship.candsyf.org and read the status shown on the application page. If you cannot confirm the deadline there, check the official site or contact gofscholarship@candsyf.org before you assume the window is still open.

Scam warning

Scam warning: a genuine church bursary like this does not ask you to pay an application fee into a personal account, and nobody can “secure” a slot for cash. If anyone contacts you by phone, text or social media offering a guaranteed award in exchange for money, or asking for your login details, stop and report it to the district through the official email address. Apply only through the official portal.

Frequently asked questions

Is the award open to non-members? No. Applicants must be members of the Cherubim and Seraphim Movement Church, Surulere District or one of its branches.

Can I apply if I have a third-class or a 2.9 CGPA? The minimum is 3.0 for the bursary tier and 3.5 for the scholarship tier. Below 3.0 you do not meet the published cut-off.

What if I cannot get a Branch Leader recommendation? The form lets you state the reason. Give a clear, honest explanation and attach any supporting detail the form allows.

Do I pay anything to apply? The official listings do not describe an application fee. Check the official site for the current application page before you pay anything to anyone.

Where do I apply? Only at gofscholarship.candsyf.org. Use the email gofscholarship@candsyf.org for questions.

Read the official page first, prepare your documents early, and keep your reference number once you submit. The award is competitive, so a complete and accurate application is the best way to stand out.