The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has announced that the N100 billion annual education scholarship initiative launched by the Aliko Dangote Foundation will significantly enhance access to education financing for Nigerian students. 

NELFUND released this information in a statement on Saturday, issued by its Director of Strategic Communications, Oseyemi Oluwatuyi. The fund described the initiative as an excellent example of private-sector collaboration that aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly his commitment to making quality education accessible to every Nigerian child.

The scholarship scheme was unveiled in Lagos, with Vice President Kashim Shettima representing President Tinubu at the event. 

In praise of the initiative, Akintunde Sawyerr, the Managing Director of NELFUND, commended both the President and the Dangote Foundation for promoting collaborative solutions to strengthen Nigeria’s education sector. He noted that the Dangote Foundation’s 10-year commitment will target students in public secondary schools and public tertiary institutions, along with a strong focus on STEM scholarships. This effort is expected to significantly support national initiatives aimed at removing financial barriers to education.

Sawyerr also emphasized NELFUND’s readiness to partner with the foundation and relevant government agencies to ensure transparency, efficiency, and maximum impact. 

NELFUND reaffirmed that partnerships among the government, private sector, and development stakeholders are crucial for building a resilient and inclusive education ecosystem, in line with President Tinubu’s call for shared responsibility in national development.

The scholarship initiative, unveiled on Thursday, December 11, 2025, is scheduled to begin in 2026. It is expected to start with 45,000 beneficiaries and expand to 155,000 students annually by its fourth year. Over the 10 years, the program aims to support approximately 1.3 million students across Nigeria’s 774 local government areas.

A key component of the scheme is the Aliko Dangote STEM Scholars initiative, which will provide tuition support to 30,000 undergraduate students annually in public universities and polytechnics, aiming to enhance innovation, human capital development, and access to higher education.