Africa’s richest man and Group President/Chief Executive of Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, has unveiled a ₦1 trillion education scholarship intervention, one of the largest privately funded education programmes in Nigeria’s history.
Announcing the initiative in Lagos on Thursday, Dangote said ₦100 billion will be spent annually for 10 years, targeting over 1.3 million Nigerian learners across secondary, technical and tertiary education.
The programme will be implemented under the Aliko Dangote Foundation (ADF) and will serve as a strategic investment in Nigeria’s future, not charity, the industrialist said.
“A Defining Moment for Education in Nigeria” — Dangote
Speaking at the launch, Dangote described the initiative as a national turning point.
“Too many brilliant Nigerian students are being pushed out of school by financial hardship. Their dreams are stalled not because they lack talent or motivation, but because they lack support,” he said.
He warned that Nigeria risks stagnation if poverty continues to force capable young people out of school, stressing that:
“No nation can rise above the quality of education it offers its young people.”
How the 10-Year Programme Will Work
According to Dangote, the Foundation will begin sponsoring 45,000 new scholars yearly from 2026, rising to 155,000 per year by 2029.
The scholarships will cover:
- STEM undergraduates
- Technical trainees
- Vulnerable secondary school girls (JSS1–SSS3)
- Teacher training programmes
Explaining the emphasis on STEM, Dangote said:
“If Nigeria must compete globally, our young minds must have the tools to learn, imagine and innovate.”
He said the technical training component is designed to support industrialisation:
“A nation that builds cannot prosper without people who know how to build.”
The Foundation also dedicated a major component to girls’ education, insisting:
“No country moves forward when its girls are left behind.”
Digital Verification and Nationwide Coverage
The scheme will operate a data-driven, digitally verified scholarship system, with integration across key national institutions including:
- NELFUND
- JAMB
- NIMC
- NUC
- NBTE
- WAEC
- NECO
Beneficiaries will come from all 774 LGAs, allocated based on population and out-of-school statistics.
“Every application will be verified. Every disbursement will be digital. Every scholar will be tracked and supported,” Dangote said.
Sustainability Backed by Dangote’s Personal Wealth
Dangote revealed he has committed 25% of his wealth to the Foundation to ensure the sustainability of the scholarship for future generations.
The scheme will undergo a comprehensive review in 2030, in line with the Dangote Group’s long-term strategy.
Beyond scholarships, he said the Foundation will continue supporting early learning and university development, including:
- The Mu Shuka Iri early learning programme in Kano
- The Aliko Dangote School for Orphan Girls in Maiduguri
- A ₦15 billion upgrade of Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology, Wudil
Call for Collaboration
Dangote commended President Bola Tinubu’s education reforms and urged stronger collaboration across all sectors.
“No single organisation can solve Nigeria’s education crisis alone. The government has a role. The private sector has a role. Communities and families have a role.”
Addressing young Nigerians directly, he added:
“Your dreams matter. Your education matters. Your future matters. We believe in you, we are investing in you, and we are committed to ensuring you do not walk this journey alone.”
He concluded with a call for national commitment to education:
“The future of Nigeria must not be defined by the children we fail to educate but by the millions we empower.”
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