The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has said the N100 billion annual scholarship programme launched by the Aliko Dangote Foundation will significantly expand access to education financing across the country.
In a statement issued on Saturday by its Director of Strategic Communications, Oseyemi Oluwatuyi, NELFUND described the initiative as a strong example of private-sector collaboration aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly his commitment to improving access to quality education for all Nigerians.
The scholarship scheme was unveiled in Lagos in the presence of Vice President Kashim Shettima, who represented the President.
NELFUND’s Managing Director, Akintunde Sawyerr, praised President Tinubu for encouraging collaborative approaches to strengthening the education sector, noting that the Dangote Foundation’s intervention directly supports efforts to eliminate financial barriers for students.
He said the foundation’s 10-year commitment—covering public secondary schools, public tertiary institutions and a strong focus on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM)—would substantially reinforce national initiatives aimed at widening access to education funding.
Sawyerr also reaffirmed NELFUND’s willingness to partner with the Dangote Foundation and relevant government agencies to ensure transparency, efficiency and maximum impact.
According to him, NELFUND remains committed to ensuring that no Nigerian is denied educational opportunities due to financial limitations.
The fund further stressed that sustained collaboration among government, the private sector and development partners is critical to building an inclusive and resilient education system, in line with the President’s call for shared responsibility in national development.
On Thursday, December 11, 2025, the Chairman of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, announced the N100 billion yearly scholarship scheme under the Aliko Dangote Foundation. The programme, set to begin in 2026, aims to support financially disadvantaged students and strengthen human capital development.
The initiative will start with 45,000 beneficiaries and scale up to 155,000 scholars annually by its fourth year, eventually reaching about 1.3 million students across Nigeria’s 774 local government areas.
A major component of the programme is the Aliko Dangote STEM Scholars initiative, which will provide tuition support for 30,000 undergraduates each year in public universities and polytechnics, with the goal of expanding access to higher education and promoting innovation.