By Comfort
Lagos, Nigeria – The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has lauded the N100 billion annual scholarship initiative by the Aliko Dangote Foundation, describing it as a major step toward widening access to education financing in Nigeria.
The initiative, unveiled in Lagos on Thursday, December 11, 2025, saw the presence of Vice President Kashim Shettima, representing President Bola Tinubu. NELFUND emphasized that the program exemplifies private-sector partnership in line with the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda and his commitment to providing quality education for every Nigerian child.
NELFUND Applauds Collaborative Effort
In a statement, NELFUND’s Director of Strategic Communications, Oseyemi Oluwatuyi, praised the initiative, while Managing Director Akintunde Sawyerr highlighted its alignment with national education goals.
“The Dangote Foundation’s N100 billion annual scholarship scheme directly complements the President’s agenda to remove financial barriers for students and empower the next generation of Nigerian talent,” Sawyerr said.
He further noted that the decade-long initiative, targeting public secondary schools, tertiary institutions, and STEM-focused scholarships, will significantly enhance national efforts to improve access to education financing.
NELFUND also reaffirmed its commitment to collaborating with the Dangote Foundation and government partners to ensure the program’s transparency, efficiency, and broad impact:
“We are committed to ensuring that no Nigerian is denied educational opportunity due to financial constraints,” Sawyerr added.
Program Details and Impact
The 10-year Dangote scholarship program, set to begin in 2026, will initially support 45,000 students and expand to 155,000 beneficiaries annually by the fourth year. Over its duration, the initiative is expected to reach approximately 1.3 million students across all 774 local government areas in Nigeria.
A key component of the program is the Aliko Dangote STEM Scholars Initiative, which will provide tuition support for 30,000 undergraduate students each year in public universities and polytechnics, promoting higher education access and fostering innovation.
NELFUND emphasized that partnerships between the government, private sector, and development stakeholders are vital for building a resilient and inclusive education ecosystem, reflecting President Tinubu’s call for shared responsibility in national development.
