The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has praised the Aliko Dangote Foundation for launching a ₦100 billion annual scholarship programme, describing it as a major boost for millions of Nigerian students struggling with the cost of education.
The initiative, unveiled in Lagos, is a 10-year commitment expected to support over 1.3 million students in public secondary schools and tertiary institutions across the country, with a strong focus on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
Vice President Kashim Shettima, who represented President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the launch, said the programme aligns with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda to expand access to quality education.
Reacting to the development, NELFUND Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mr Akintunde Sawyerr, described the scholarship as a clear example of how private-sector support can change lives and strengthen Nigeria’s education system.
“This initiative directly tackles one of the biggest challenges facing Nigerian families — the inability to pay for education,” Sawyerr said. “It complements the President’s efforts to remove financial barriers and ensure that no child is denied education because of cost.”
He noted that the scale and long-term nature of the Dangote Foundation’s commitment would significantly widen access to education financing, especially for students in public institutions.
Sawyerr also expressed NELFUND’s readiness to work with the Dangote Foundation and other partners to ensure the programme delivers real impact.
“NELFUND is ready to collaborate to maximise the reach, transparency and effectiveness of this scholarship,” he said. “Our shared goal is simple: to give every Nigerian child a fair chance to learn and succeed.”
NELFUND stressed that strong partnerships between government, the private sector and development stakeholders remain critical to building an inclusive and sustainable education system.
The Fund congratulated the Aliko Dangote Foundation on what it described as a historic intervention, expressing confidence that the scholarship scheme will leave a lasting mark on Nigeria’s education landscape.
EduTimes Africa, a product of Education Times Africa, is a magazine publication that aims to lend its support to close the yawning gap in Africa's educational development.
