If you are a Nigerian student who cannot pay your tuition without help, the Dele Awe Foundation scholarship is one of the few programmes you can apply to directly, without an agent and without a large application fee. This guide sets out what the foundation says about itself on its official website, what it does not say, and how to apply safely.
Last updated: October 23, 2026
What the Dele Awe Foundation is
The Dele Awe Foundation is an arm of Hearts of Compassion Incorporated, a non-profit corporation based in Grand Prairie, Texas. The corporation is registered under section 501(c)(3) of the US Internal Revenue Code, with an IRS ruling year of 2005. The foundation’s website says it has been providing university scholarships, vocational career assistance and educational materials to young Nigerians since 2010.
The foundation names David Dele Awe as its founder. Its website lists a board of directors, but the director biographies are still marked as to be added, so this guide does not describe individual directors. What the site does describe is a three-part programme: Project Hope, which gives school supplies and motivational assemblies to grade-school pupils in rural Nigeria; scholarships and exam sponsorship, which is the subject of this post; and vocational support, which provides start-up equipment for trained artisans.
What the scholarship covers
According to the scholarships section of the official site, the award provides tuition support for the academic year. The tuition is paid directly to the student’s institution, not to the student. Selected students may also receive textbooks and other learning materials.
The site reports that the foundation funds roughly 100 scholarships each year across Nigeria, and that it has sponsored more than $100,000 in college tuition since it began. Those are the foundation’s own cumulative figures, not a promise to any one student.
The official site does not state a fixed award amount per student, and it does not say whether the award covers full fees or living costs. Its scholarship page still carries an internal note to confirm the award amount, renewal terms and application window. Until the foundation publishes those details, plan your budget on the basis that the scholarship is tuition support, not a full scholarship.
Secondary school students are treated separately. The foundation says it has paid WAEC and NECO registration fees for more than 200 students, because many students cannot sit their exit exams for the fee alone.
Who can apply
The official site lists three conditions for the university scholarship:
- You must be a student from one of the Nigerian communities where the foundation operates. The site does not publish a full list on its scholarship page, so ask the foundation to confirm whether your community is covered before you start the form.
- You must be admitted to, or in good standing at, an accredited Nigerian university, polytechnic or college of education.
- You must be able to show financial need.
Community coverage is the condition most likely to decide your application, so check it first and do not spend days on paperwork for a community that is not covered.
How to apply, step by step
- Confirm your community. Email deleawefoundation@gmail.com and ask whether your community is covered in the current round.
- Request the application. Send your full name, your school and your year of study to the same address. You can also collect a form from your school’s scholarship coordinator if the foundation has supplied forms to your school.
- Prepare your documents. The official site asks for the completed form, your admission letter or your current academic results, and a one-page statement about your goals. The site does not give a complete document list, so ask the foundation to confirm anything else it needs before you submit.
- Write the one-page statement. Say what you are studying, why it matters to you, how your family is currently paying for school, and what you plan to do after you graduate.
- Submit the completed form and documents through the route the foundation gives you, and keep a copy of everything you send.
- Wait for the committee’s decision. The site says applications are reviewed by the foundation’s committee and that successful students are notified.
The official site does not mention an application fee at any stage.
Deadline and selection
The official site does not publish an application deadline or an open window for the scholarship. We have not been able to confirm a closing date from the foundation, so do not treat any date you see elsewhere as official until the foundation confirms it by email.
Because the application window is not published, apply as soon as you have your documents ready rather than waiting for a closing date to appear. The site describes the selection process in one line: the committee reviews applications, and the foundation notifies students it selects. It does not publish a shortlisting timeline, so keep your phone number and email address current and check both regularly.
Tips for a strong application
- Be specific about your financial situation. Say who pays your fees, what your household can afford and what the gap is. A clear, honest account of need is easier for a committee to weigh than a general one.
- Make your academic evidence easy to check. Attach a clear scan of your admission letter or latest results, and make sure the name on the document matches the name on your form.
- Keep your statement short and focused. One course, one clear reason for studying it, and one realistic plan for after graduation will do more than a long list of hopes.
- Answer every question on the form. Blank fields are a common reason an application is set aside before anyone reads the statement.
- Use an email address you check every day. The foundation may need to ask you for a missing document, and a message you miss could cost you the place.
- Apply early. Most avoidable mistakes come from rushed forms, and early applicants have time to fix a missing document.
Scam warning: do not pay anyone to apply
Some agents and social media accounts charge “application fees”, “processing fees” or “guaranteed selection” payments for scholarships that are free to apply for. The Dele Awe Foundation’s official route is free: you request the form by email or through your school’s coordinator. If anyone asks you for money, bank transfers or card details to secure your application, they are not the foundation. Stop, and contact the foundation directly at deleawefoundation@gmail.com.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a deadline for the Dele Awe Foundation scholarship?
The official site does not publish one. Apply as early as you can, and ask the foundation by email whether an application window is open.
How many students does the foundation fund each year?
The official site says it funds roughly 100 scholarships each year across Nigeria.
Can any Nigerian student apply?
No. The official site says applicants must come from the Nigerian communities where the foundation operates, so confirm your community with the foundation first.
Does it cost anything to apply?
The official site does not mention any fee. Do not pay an agent to apply for you.
Does the scholarship cover all my costs?
The official site describes tuition support for the academic year, with textbooks and learning materials for selected students. It does not say the award covers living costs or full fees, so ask the foundation what it covers before you plan your budget.
Can secondary school students apply?
Secondary students can apply separately for WAEC or NECO registration sponsorship, according to the official site. The tuition scholarship is for students in tertiary institutions.
Official links
- Dele Awe Foundation official website: https://deleawefoundation.org/
- Scholarship enquiries and application requests: deleawefoundation@gmail.com
Related guides
- How to spot scholarship scams
- Chevening scholarship for Nigerians
- Commonwealth scholarship for Nigerians
- DAAD scholarship for Nigerians
- PTDF overseas scholarship
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