Dangote Launches Historic ₦1 Trillion Scholarship Scheme for 1.3 Million Nigerian Students

Dangote Launches Historic ₦1 Trillion Scholarship Scheme for 1.3 Million Nigerian Students

.....FG, Governors, Global Leaders Applaud as Programme Becomes Nigeria’s Largest Private-Sector Education Intervention

President of Dangote Group and Chairman of the Aliko Dangote Foundation (ADF), Aliko Dangote, has unveiled a landmark ₦1 trillion national scholarship scheme aimed at supporting more than 1.3 million Nigerian students over the next decade. The programme, announced in Abuja, is the single largest private-sector education support initiative in Nigeria’s history.

Beginning in 2026, the Foundation will commit ₦100 billion annually for 10 years, targeting learners across all 774 local government areas. Dangote said the scheme was created to widen access to education, support vulnerable learners, and promote academic excellence as part of a long-term investment in Nigeria’s human capital.

Three Scholarship Categories

The programme is structured into three major components:

• Aliko Dangote STEM Scholars: 30,000 undergraduates in public universities and polytechnics will receive up to ₦600,000 yearly for tuition and study support.
• Aliko Dangote Technical Scholars: 5,000 trainees in technical and vocational education will receive essential study materials and professional toolkits.
• MHF Dangote Secondary School Girls Scholars: 10,000 girls in public secondary schools will receive uniforms, books, and learning materials, with priority given to states with high out-of-school rates.

The initiative will operate through a fully digital, merit-based system in collaboration with NELFUND, JAMB, NIMC, NUC, NBTE, WAEC, and NECO. Heads of the institutions were present at the unveiling.

‘A Strategic Investment in Nigeria’s Future’ — Dangote

Speaking at the launch, Dangote said financial hardship—not lack of ability—remains the leading reason many young Nigerians drop out of school. He described the scholarship programme as both a social intervention and a long-term development investment.

“This is not only charity. This is a strategic investment in Nigeria’s future,” he said. “Every child we keep in school strengthens our economy. Every student we support reduces inequality. Every scholar we empower becomes a future contributor to national development.”

Dangote added that 25% of his personal wealth has been dedicated to sustaining the scheme, with progress formally reviewed under the Dangote Group’s Vision 2030 strategy.

FG, Governors, Monarchs, Global Leaders Applaud Initiative

Vice President Kashim Shettima praised Dangote for “nation-building in its purest form,” calling the intervention timely given Nigeria’s population and growing need for skilled manpower.

“What he has done here today is a lesson to each of us. A population becomes a liability only when it is uneducated,” Shettima said.

Education Minister, Prof. Tahir Mamman (represented by Minister of State, Dr. Tunji Alausa), described the initiative as “pure human capital development,” aligning with the Tinubu administration’s push to transition Nigeria into a knowledge-based economy.

Representing the 36 governors, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu lauded the initiative and pledged state-level support to ensure its success.

Traditional rulers, including the Emir of Lafia, Justice Sidi Dauda Bage—who chairs the Programme Steering Committee—and the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, commended Dangote’s patriotism and his commitment to uplifting Nigerian youths.

In a virtual message from the United States, United Nations Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, said the initiative would “provide an environment where children can learn and families can prosper.”

‘A Beginning, Not a Finish Line’

Dangote stressed that the programme is designed not as a standalone solution but as the foundation for multi-sector collaboration to address Nigeria’s education challenges.

“A single organisation cannot solve Nigeria’s education crisis alone,” he said. “Government has a role. The private sector has a role. Communities have a role. When we work together, we can transform education—and with it, Nigeria’s future.”

He further assured students across the country: “Your dreams matter. Your education matters. We believe in you, and we are investing in you.”

Nigeria’s Largest Private Education Commitment

With over 1.3 million beneficiaries expected within a decade—including more than 170,000 girls—the initiative reinforces the Foundation’s mission to widen opportunities, reduce inequality, and enhance national development.

As Nigeria grapples with rising education costs and economic pressures, the Dangote ₦1 trillion scholarship programme stands as a bold and transformative commitment to securing the nation’s future through its youth.