By Ayomide Otitoju
Africa’s richest industrialist, Aliko Dangote, has launched a ₦100 billion annual education support initiative aimed at reducing financial barriers that prevent millions of young Nigerians from accessing and completing formal education.
The scheme was unveiled on Thursday in Lagos at the launch of the Aliko Dangote Foundation’s ₦100 billion annual education scholarship programme and is projected to exceed ₦1 trillion over the next 10 years.
Dangote said the initiative would begin in 2026, supporting 45,000 new beneficiaries in its first year. The number is expected to rise to 155,000 by the fourth year and remain at that level for a decade, targeting a total of 1.3 million students across Nigeria’s 774 local government areas.
According to him, the intervention consists of four programmes designed to address areas of severe educational exclusion. Under the Aliko Dangote STEM Scholars scheme, 30,000 undergraduates in science, technology, engineering and mathematics will receive tuition support aligned with approved fees in public universities and polytechnics.
Another 5,000 students annually will benefit from the Aliko Dangote Technical Scholars programme, which supports learners in public technical and vocational institutions and complements the Federal Government’s free-tuition policy for TVET students.
The MHF Dangote Secondary School Girls Scholars programme will provide annual support for 20,000 girls from JSS1 to SSS3, with continued assistance into tertiary education. Priority will be given to states with the highest number of out-of-school girls.
In addition, the Foundation will implement a large-scale teacher development programme, starting with 10,000 STEM teachers in 39 government colleges attended by MHF scholars, before expanding nationwide.
Dangote said the initiative targets Nigeria’s most vulnerable learners, stressing that financial hardship, rather than lack of ability, remains the biggest threat to school retention and completion.
“This is not only charity; it is a strategic investment in Nigeria’s future,” he said, noting that keeping more children in school would strengthen the economy and reduce inequality.
He added that the programme would be administered through a merit-based digital system for verification and disbursement, developed in partnership with key stakeholders.
Implementation will be overseen by a Programme Steering Committee chaired by the Emir of Lafia, Justice Sidi Dauda Bage. Dangote also disclosed that a formal commitment of 25 per cent of his wealth to the Aliko Dangote Foundation would support the initiative’s long-term sustainability, in line with the Dangote Group’s Vision 2030 strategy.
