Dangote Foundation Unveils ₦100bn STEM Scholarship Fund to Transform Nigerian Education

Aliko Dangote, chairman of the Dangote Group, has unveiled a ₦100 billion annual education support programme aimed at keeping financially vulnerable Nigerian students in school and expanding access to higher education across the country.

Speaking at the launch in Lagos on Thursday, Dangote highlighted that many talented young Nigerians are forced out of classrooms due to financial hardship. He described education as the “strongest engine of social mobility” and a vital foundation for national development.

The initiative, funded by the Aliko Dangote Foundation, will span ten years beginning in 2026, representing a total commitment of over ₦1 trillion. At inception, the programme will support 45,000 scholars annually, expanding to 155,000 beneficiaries by its fourth year, and maintaining that level for the remainder of the decade. By 2036, over 1.3 million students are expected to have benefited.

Dangote emphasized, “We cannot allow financial hardship to silence the dreams of our young people, especially when the future of our nation depends on their skills, resilience, and leadership.”

A major feature of the fund is the Aliko Dangote STEM Scholars Programme, designed to support 30,000 undergraduate students annually pursuing science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) in public universities and polytechnics. Each scholar will receive tuition support tailored to their institution and course of study.

Dangote stressed that the initiative aims to empower innovation and equip young Nigerians with the tools to compete on a global scale. “STEM drives development. If Nigeria is to compete globally, our young minds must have the resources to learn, imagine, and innovate,” he said.

The launch underscores Dangote’s commitment to transforming education in Nigeria through strategic philanthropy, ensuring that financial constraints do not hinder the nation’s next generation of leaders and innovators.