UNESCO REF × UNICAF Strategic Partnership — Official Press Release
Ref: UNESCO-REF/MEDIA/2026/UNICAF-EFFS-01
Strategic Partnership • SDG 4

UNESCO REF and UNICAF Formalize Strategic Partnership on Educational Financial Facility Scheme

Abuja, Nigeria • 27 April 2026 • For Immediate Release

The Read and Earn Federation for UNESCO (UNESCO REF) and UNICAF have formalized a landmark strategic partnership delivering an exclusive 86 percent scholarship coverage for Nigerian students pursuing undergraduate, master's, and doctoral qualifications through the UNESCO REF Educational Financial Facility Scheme (EFFS).

Students qualifying through this exclusive arrangement pay only 14 percent of tuition costs. The remainder is fully funded. This rate exists only through the UNESCO REF EFFS channel.

"Nigeria cannot afford to leave talent stranded at the border of ambition and access. Through EFFS, we have created a transparent, scalable mechanism that combines structured study loans, institutional placement, and scholarship coverage of 86 percent. When we equip our youth with globally recognised qualifications, we strengthen the nation's capacity to innovate, compete, and lead."
Prince Abdulsalami Ladigbolu-Oranmiyan, President, UNESCO REF
"Our collaboration directly supports SDG 4: Quality Education, ensuring inclusive and equitable access to quality tertiary education for all learners. By offering up to 86 percent scholarship coverage, we are systematically expanding opportunities for Nigerian students to pursue higher education, regardless of socioeconomic barriers."
Dr. Nicos Nicolaou, Chief Executive Officer, UNICAF

The Window is Open

Full programme details, eligibility criteria and application procedures available through UNESCO REF official channels.

Exclusive Notice: The 86% scholarship coverage is exclusively available only through the UNESCO REF Educational Financial Facility Scheme (EFFS). This premium scholarship rate represents UNICAF's dedicated commitment to the United Nations SDG 4 mandate and the Federal Government of Nigeria's education agenda through the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFund), negotiated specifically for UNESCO REF EFFS beneficiaries.