The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has said the N100bn yearly scholarship programme launched by the Aliko Dangote Foundation will significantly broaden access to education financing across Nigeria.
In a statement issued on Saturday by its Director of Strategic Communications, Oseyemi Oluwatuyi, NELFUND described the initiative—unveiled in Lagos with Vice President Kashim Shettima representing President Bola Tinubu—as a strong example of private-sector collaboration aligned with the Renewed Hope Agenda and the administration’s commitment to inclusive, quality education.
The Managing Director of NELFUND, Akintunde Sawyerr, praised President Tinubu for promoting partnerships that strengthen the education sector, noting that the Dangote Foundation’s intervention supports efforts to remove financial barriers faced by students.
“The N100bn annual scholarship scheme directly aligns with the President’s vision to expand educational access and empower the next generation of Nigerian talent,” Sawyerr said.
He explained that the foundation’s 10-year commitment, covering public secondary schools, public tertiary institutions and a major STEM-focused component, would substantially boost national initiatives aimed at improving education financing.
Sawyerr also expressed NELFUND’s willingness to work closely with the Dangote Foundation and relevant government agencies to ensure transparency, efficiency and wide-reaching impact.
“NELFUND is ready to collaborate to maximise the reach and effectiveness of this programme. Our goal is to ensure that no Nigerian is denied education due to financial limitations,” he added.
The fund reiterated that cooperation among government, the private sector and development partners is crucial to building a resilient and inclusive education system, in line with President Tinubu’s call for shared responsibility in national development.
The scholarship scheme was formally unveiled on December 11, 2025, by the Chairman of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote. Scheduled to begin in 2026, the 10-year programme will initially support 45,000 students and grow to 155,000 beneficiaries annually by its fourth year, with an estimated total reach of about 1.3 million students nationwide.
A key feature of the initiative is the Aliko Dangote STEM Scholars programme, which will fund the tuition of 30,000 undergraduates each year in public universities and polytechnics, aimed at strengthening access to higher education and driving innovation.
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