In a statement issued on Saturday by its Director of Strategic Communications, Oseyemi Oluwatuyi, NELFUND said the scholarship scheme represents a strong example of how private-sector involvement can complement government efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s education system. The launch, which took place in Lagos, was attended by Vice President Kashim Shettima, who represented President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
According to NELFUND, the initiative aligns closely with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly his commitment to removing financial barriers that prevent children and young people from accessing quality education. The fund praised the administration for encouraging collaborative solutions that bring together government and private institutions to address long-standing challenges in the education sector.
Speaking through the statement, NELFUND’s Managing Director, Akintunde Sawyerr, described the Dangote Foundation’s intervention as a strategic and impactful move. He noted that the N100bn annual scholarship would directly support national efforts to empower students, especially those from financially vulnerable backgrounds.
Sawyerr highlighted that the foundation’s 10-year commitment, which targets public secondary schools, public tertiary institutions, and a strong STEM-focused scholarship track, would play a critical role in widening access to education financing and building human capital. He added that such long-term planning is essential for achieving sustainable outcomes in education development.
He further reaffirmed NELFUND’s readiness to collaborate with the Dangote Foundation and relevant government partners to ensure the programme delivers maximum impact. According to him, efficiency, transparency, and accountability will be key to ensuring that the scholarship reaches those who need it most.
“NELFUND stands ready to engage, support and work collaboratively to maximise the reach and effectiveness of this programme. We are committed to ensuring that no Nigerian is denied educational opportunity due to financial constraints,” Sawyerr said.
The fund also stressed that partnerships among government, the private sector, and development stakeholders remain crucial to building a resilient and inclusive education ecosystem. Such collaboration, NELFUND noted, reflects President Tinubu’s call for shared responsibility in driving national development.
The scholarship scheme was formally unveiled on Thursday, December 11, 2025, by Chairman of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote. Under the programme, the Aliko Dangote Foundation will commit N100bn annually to keep vulnerable students in school and strengthen Nigeria’s human capital base.
Set to commence in 2026, the 10-year initiative is expected to begin with 45,000 beneficiaries and scale up to 155,000 scholars annually by its fourth year. By the end of the programme, an estimated 1.3 million students across Nigeria’s 774 local government areas are projected to benefit.
A key pillar of the scheme is the Aliko Dangote STEM Scholars initiative, which will provide tuition support for 30,000 undergraduate students each year in public universities and polytechnics. The STEM-focused component is designed to expand access to higher education in critical fields while fostering innovation and skills development needed for Nigeria’s long-term growth.