NELFUND hails Dangote Foundation’s ₦100bn annual Scholarship Scheme

The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has congratulated the Aliko Dangote Foundation on the launch of its ₦100 billion annual education scholarship initiative, describing it as a landmark intervention that will significantly expand access to education across Nigeria.

The decade-long programme, which is expected to benefit more than 1.3 million Nigerian students in public secondary and tertiary institutions, was unveiled in Lagos on Thursday in the presence of Vice President Kashim Shettima, who represented President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

In a statement issued in Abuja on December 12, 2025, NELFUND said the initiative aligns strongly with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and his commitment to removing financial barriers to education for Nigerian children.

Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NELFUND, Mr. Akintunde Sawyerr, praised the Dangote Foundation for what he described as visionary leadership and meaningful private-sector participation in national development.

“The Dangote Foundation’s ₦100 billion annual scholarship scheme directly complements the President’s agenda to remove financial barriers for students and empower the next generation of Nigerian talent,” Sawyerr said.

He also applauded President Tinubu for promoting collaborative approaches to strengthening the education system, noting that the Foundation’s commitment supports ongoing reforms in education financing.

According to Sawyerr, the initiative’s focus on public secondary schools, public tertiary institutions and a strong science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) component will significantly enhance national efforts to widen access to quality education.

He further expressed NELFUND’s readiness to collaborate with the Dangote Foundation and relevant government agencies to ensure transparency, efficiency and broad-based impact.

“NELFUND stands ready to engage, support, and work collaboratively to maximise the reach and effectiveness of this programme,” he said.

“We are committed to ensuring that no Nigerian is denied educational opportunity due to financial constraints.”

NELFUND stressed that strong partnerships between government, the private sector and development stakeholders remain critical to building a resilient and inclusive education ecosystem.

The Fund again congratulated the Dangote Foundation on what it described as a historic achievement, expressing confidence that the scholarship scheme would leave a lasting and transformative imprint on Nigeria’s educational landscape.