The Minister of Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Adolf Mkenda, has officially launched the Samia Extended Scholarship Program (DS/A+), which aims to fund talented students from Mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar to study at top international universities in strategic fields such as Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, and Allied Science for the 2025/2027 academic years.

Speaking at the launch event held on July 8, 2025, in Arusha, Prof. Mkenda explained that the program targets 50 outstanding students specializing in advanced mathematics-based natural sciences, and that successful applicants will participate in a 10-month National Knowledge Camp at the Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology (NM-AIST) before beginning their studies abroad.

Prof. Mkenda emphasized that the Sixth Phase Government, under the leadership of President Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan, is committed to investing heavily in science, technology, and innovation for national progress, and urged young people to seize this opportunity with dedication and knowledge to drive scientific and technological transformation.

Prof. Maulilio Kipanyula, Vice Chancellor of NM-AIST, stated that the institution is fully prepared to offer an excellent learning environment, equipping scholarship recipients with modern knowledge and skills, while Prof. Makenya Maboko, Chair of the Scholarship Program Committee, thanked the government for launching the initiative, which enables Tanzanian youth to pursue careers in scientific fields such as data science, adding that this effort will help the country keep pace with technological advancements and boost economic growth.

Dr. Amos Nungu, Director General of COSTECH, outlined the three-phase implementation of the scholarship program, explaining that the first phase involves a 10-month national knowledge camp designed to instil patriotism, national values, and global communication skills among youth, the second phase prepares students psychologically for studying abroad, and the final phase provides full funding for Master’s degree studies in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence through collaboration with NM-AIST and IIT Madras Zanzibar.