The Nigerian Education Loan Fund, NELFUND, has congratulated the Aliko Dangote Foundation on the launch of a landmark N100 billion annual scholarship programme, describing it as a transformative private-sector intervention that will significantly expand access to education for Nigerian students.
The initiative, a decade-long commitment projected to benefit over 1.3 million learners in public secondary and tertiary institutions, was unveiled in Lagos in the presence of Vice President Kashim Shettima, who represented President Bola Tinubu.
In a statement issued by its Director of Strategic Communications, Mrs. Oseyemi Oluwatuyi, NELFUND said the scale and ambition of the Dangote Foundation’s intervention aligned squarely with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly his administration’s resolve to remove financial barriers to quality education.
Managing Director and Chief Executive of NELFUND, Mr. Akintunde Sawyerr, praised the Dangote Foundation for what he described as visionary leadership and a strong demonstration of how private capital can complement public-sector reforms.
“On behalf of NELFUND, we commend President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for championing collaborative solutions that strengthen Nigeria’s education system.
“The Dangote Foundation’s N100 billion annual scholarship scheme directly complements the President’s agenda to remove financial barriers for students and empower the next generation of Nigerian talent,” he said.
Sawyerr noted that the programme’s broad scope, covering public secondary schools, public tertiary institutions, and a dedicated STEM-focused scholarship track, would significantly bolster national efforts to improve education financing and skills development in critical growth sectors.
He further emphasized NELFUND’s readiness to work closely with the Dangote Foundation and other stakeholders to ensure the programme achieves maximum impact.
He noted that the Foundation’s decade-long commitment, targeting public secondary schools, public tertiary institutions, and a significant STEM-focused scholarship track will greatly enhance national efforts to widen access to education financing.
“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,” he added.
NELFUND reiterated that sustainable progress in education requires strong partnerships between government, the private sector, and development actors, stressing that shared responsibility is central to building a resilient and inclusive education ecosystem.
The Fund expressed confidence that the scholarship programme would leave a lasting and transformative imprint on Nigeria’s educational landscape.
