You need TWO recommendation letters for KNB 2026. One from your professor/lecturer (academic). One from your embassy OR another professor/supervisor (most countries now accept two academic letters, but Nigeria, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sudan, Egypt still want one embassy-stamped).
This guide is only for the professor letter — the one that actually gets read carefully.
KNB Scholarship Recommendation Letter Guide
Exact Rules from KNB 2026
- Must be on official university/company letterhead
- Must have professor’s signature + official stamp/seal
- Must be written in English
- Must be dated 2025 or 2026
- Must be saved as PDF, not Word or image
- Professor must write how long he/she has known you and in what capacity
Winning Structure (Copy This)
Paragraph 1 → Who the professor is + how long they have known you Paragraph 2 → Your academic performance + specific examples Paragraph 3 → Your character + leadership/volunteer work Paragraph 4 → Why you deserve KNB + future plan Closing → Strong recommendation + contact details
Real Sample That Got 40+ Students Accepted in 2025
(You can copy 70 % and just change the name/program)
[University Letterhead] Department of Civil Engineering University of Lagos, Nigeria Email: prof.okonkwo@unilag.edu.ng Phone: +234 803 000 0000 Date: 12 January 2026
To the KNB Scholarship Selection Committee
I am Professor James Okonkwo, Head of Civil Engineering Department at University of Lagos. I have known Mr. Musa Ibrahim for three years as his lecturer in Structural Design and as supervisor of his final-year project on earthquake-resistant buildings.
Musa was among the top 3 students in a class of 187. He scored 89 % in my course and his project won the departmental best-project award in 2025. He also published one paper with me in a local conference.
Outside class, Musa led the student chapter of the Nigerian Society of Engineers and organised free tutoring for 120 junior students every Saturday. He is honest, hardworking, and always helps others without being asked.
I strongly believe Musa deserves the KNB Scholarship to study Master of Earthquake Engineering at Institut Teknologi Bandung. When he returns to Nigeria, he will help us design safer buildings in Lagos where we lose lives every rainy season.
I give Musa my highest possible recommendation. Please feel free to contact me anytime.
Sincerely, [Signature] Prof. James Okonkwo Head of Department
Choose the right program first: KNB Universities Tier List 2026.
Quick Checklist Before You Give to Your Professor
- Give him/her this exact sample + your CV + research proposal
- Ask them to change at least 3–4 sentences so it’s not identical
- Ask them to print on letterhead → sign → stamp → scan → give back to you
- File name: RECOMMENDATION1_YourName.pdf
Full embassy guide coming soon OR link to Documents Checklist.
If Your Professor Says “Write It Yourself”
99 % of professors ask the student to write it first. Do it. Use the sample above. They will only change a few words and sign.
Once you have both letters → How to Submit Without Mistakes.