OpportunityLab, also written Opportunity Lab, helps young Africans find scholarships, grants, fellowships, internships, competitions and hackathons, and explains exactly how to apply. It’s free to use, and it’s run by FutureLabs Africa, a technology and economic development institution based in Akwa Ibom, Nigeria.
Since March 2025, OpportunityLab has published more than 670 opportunities from universities, foundations, governments, companies and international organisations. Each one is written for a reader who wants to know, in a few minutes, whether they qualify, what they would get, when the deadline is and how to apply.
What you’ll find on OpportunityLab
- Scholarships: fully and partly funded undergraduate, master’s and PhD scholarships, in Africa and abroad.
- Grants: funding for startups, small businesses, non-profits and community projects.
- Fellowships: leadership, research, journalism and professional fellowships.
- Internships and trainings: paid internships, graduate trainee programmes and free skills training.
- Hackathons and competitions: pitch contests, innovation challenges and prizes.
- Tech opportunities: programmes, accelerators and jobs for people building careers in technology.
How OpportunityLab works
Every OpportunityLab post follows the same format, so you can compare opportunities quickly:
- What it is and who runs it, in plain language.
- Benefits: funding amounts, duration, travel, mentorship and other support.
- Eligibility: age limits, nationality, education level and other requirements.
- Deadline and key dates.
- How to apply, with a link to the organiser’s official application page.
We base each post on the organiser’s own announcement and link to it, so you can always check the details at the source before you apply. When an organiser changes a deadline or closes an opportunity, we update the post.
Our commitment to you
- Free, always. OpportunityLab never charges you to read, apply or be considered for anything we list.
- We don’t process applications. You apply directly with the organiser. We never ask for your passwords, PINs or payment details.
- Watch out for scams. Genuine scholarships and grants rarely ask applicants to pay a fee, and never through an individual or agent. If an opportunity on our site looks wrong, tell us and we will check it.
Who runs OpportunityLab
OpportunityLab is a project of FutureLabs Africa, which builds technology, skills and enterprise programmes for young people across Africa. OpportunityLab is the public, free part of that work: a daily source of opportunities that can change a young person’s education or career.
Frequently asked questions
What is OpportunityLab?
OpportunityLab (opportunitylab.net, sometimes written Opportunity Lab) is a free website that lists scholarships, grants, fellowships, internships, competitions and hackathons for young Africans, with clear eligibility, deadline and application details for each one.
Is OpportunityLab free?
Yes. Reading OpportunityLab and applying to the opportunities we list is free. We never charge applicants.
Does OpportunityLab award the scholarships and grants?
No. Each opportunity is offered and decided by its organiser. OpportunityLab explains it and links to the official application, and you apply directly with the organiser.
Who runs OpportunityLab?
OpportunityLab is run by FutureLabs Africa, a technology and economic development institution based in Akwa Ibom, Nigeria.
How often is OpportunityLab updated?
New opportunities are published most weekdays, and we update existing posts when deadlines or details change.
Can I share an opportunity with OpportunityLab?
Yes. Send the official link to [email protected] or use our contact page. We check every opportunity before publishing it.
Contact OpportunityLab
Questions, corrections or partnership ideas? Email [email protected] or use our contact page. We usually reply within 48 hours.