Funding Innovation
In Research & Knowledge
Development
For Social Change & Impact
Your Research Can
Change the World
The University Grant Scheme
The Governing Council and Management of Grooming People for Better Livelihood Centre (Grooming Centre), a leading Microfinance Institution in Nigeria, are pleased to announce the 2025 Grooming Centre University Grant Scheme. The aim of the scheme, which is the seventh in the series, is to catalyze research and knowledge development in the areas of financial inclusion, microfinance, rural development, social enterprise, MSMEs, technological development, digital finance, youth in development, women in development or any other research that is aimed at lifting people out of poverty.
Objective
To promote financial inclusion and contribute to the knowledge base in enterprise development through research.
Qualification
Open to postgraduate and undergraduate students in a Nigerian tertiary institution whose research is in the area of...
Beneficiaries
The 2025 University Grant will be awarded to 100 undergraduate and 50 post graduate students.
Chairman's Quote
As part of our commitment to lead research in knowledge development and management, Grooming People for Better Livelihood Centre is providing incentives to Undergraduates and Post Graduates to undertake research in all facets of inclusive finance, social enterprise, innovation and poverty alleviation.
We encourage Nigerian Tertiary Institution students to take advantage of the novel opportunity this Grooming Centre University Grant scheme provides in developing themselves and the sector.
CEO/Founder, Grooming Centre.
Beneficiaries
The 2025 University Grant will be awarded to 100 undergraduate and 50 post graduate students who are presently carrying out their research studies in the areas of financial inclusion, microfinance, rural development, social enterprise, MSMEs, technological development, digital finance, youth in development, women in development or any other research that is aimed at lifting people out of poverty.
0
0
Method of Application
All entries must be submitted in soft copy via the application page on this website.
Download the Application Abstract
The abstract guide gives you a clear format to structure your research application document. Follow the abstract in your research application document.
Audio Guide
Listen to the audio guide for writing your research proposal.
Qualification Requirements
How to Qualify
1. Application Requirement
- The applicant must either be a student at the undergraduate or postgraduate level in a Nigerian tertiary institution whose research study covers any of such areas as financial inclusion, microfinance, rural development, social enterprise, MSMEs, technological development, digital finance, youth in development, women in development or any other research that is aimed at lifting people out of poverty.
2. Research Areas
- The focus of the research study must be relevant to the Nigerian context, practical, innovative and should be capable of promoting any of the above areas of interest, in the Nigerian space.
3. Competence
- The research must show a high level of originality, imaginative thought and be data inclusive.
- (There are no age, gender, religious or ethnic barriers to application).
4. Academic Requirement
- The applicant must be a student at an NUC/ NBTE approved Nigeria university or polytechnic.
- The applicant must submit a written and signed recommendation from his/her project supervisor.
5. Submission Process
- The applicant must submit a research concept of between 10-20 pages which will include an Introduction, Statement of the problem, Research Questions, Research Objectives, Significance of the Study, Operationalization of terms, Scope of the Study, Literature and theoretical review, Preamble, Conceptual literature, Empirical literature, Theoretical Orientation, Conceptual framework, Hypotheses, Methodology, Preamble, Research Design, Study area, Study population, Methods of data collection, Sample size and sampling technique, Reliability and Validity test, Methods of Data Analysis, Ethical Consideration, References-APA 6along with candidate’s personal profile.
- Applicants empirical review must be between a timeframe of 2019 to 2025.
- The candidate will also submit a final soft copy of the research project on completion of the study.
- Applicants are required to submit their research project in Microsoft Word format, using Times New Roman font, size 12, and 1.5 line spacing.
- There are no barriers to age, gender, religion or ethnicity to the Grooming Centre University Grant Scheme.
6. Opening & Closing Dates
- Submission opens on the 21st of July 2025 and closes on 10th October 2025
About Grooming Centre
Grooming Centre is a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) founded in December 2006, and registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) Certificate Number CAC/IT/NO 24198, to address the near absence of financial services to the large population of economically active poor people engaged in small trading and micro productive activities in many parts of Nigeria.
The Centre is the result of the strong commitment of a group of microfinance practitioners to building a vibrant and high growth organization that will play a leading role in improving access to financial services for the poor. It is a membership organization which implements a radical action programme through a range of financial services delivered to the door-step of its members.
Grooming Centre is a national institution with an international perspective and is dedicated to mobilizing resources and offering financial services to the entrepreneurial poor that have little or no access to conventional forms of financial services.
The Centre operates as a viable institution by hinging its services and operations on global best practice approaches perfected by ASA Bangladesh, a global market leader in providing microfinance services and introduced to Nigeria through the UNDP assisted MicroStart programme.
Our Vision
To become a leading player in the microfinance market in Nigeria by rapidly expanding our market coverage on sustainable basis and creating comparative wealth for our members.
Our Mission
Our mission is to empower the economically active poor by taking a range of tailor made microfinance services to their door step using globally tested best practice methodologies.