NELFUND congratulates Dangote Foundation on landmark N100bn annual scholarship initiative

By Mariam Abeeb

The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has congratulated the Aliko Dangote Foundation on the launch of its unprecedented N100 billion annual education scholarship initiative, a decade-long commitment that will support more than 1.3 million Nigerian students across secondary and tertiary institutions.
NELFUND described the initiative, unveiled in Lagos in the presence of Vice President Kashim Shettima, representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as a bold demonstration of private-sector partnership in line with the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda and his commitment to expanding access to quality education for every Nigerian child.
The Managing Director / CE of NELFUND, Mr. Akintunde Sawyerr, commended the Aliko Dangote Foundation for its visionary leadership and its alignment with the Federal Government’s reform priorities.
“On behalf of NELFUND, we applaud President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for championing collaborative solutions that strengthen our education system,” Mr. Sawyerr said.
“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 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.
Mr. Sawyerr further emphasized NELFUND’s readiness to collaborate with the Dangote Foundation and government partners to ensure efficiency, transparency, and broad impact.
“NELFUND stands ready to engage, support, and work collaboratively to maximise the reach and effectiveness of this programme,” he added.
“We are committed to ensuring that no Nigerian is denied educational opportunity due to financial constraints.”
NELFUND reaffirmed that partnerships between the government, private sector, and development stakeholders are essential for building a resilient and inclusive education ecosystem, one that reflects President Tinubu’s renewed call for shared responsibility in national development.
The Fund once again congratulated the Dangote Foundation for this historic achievement and expressed confidence that the initiative will leave a transformative legacy on Nigeria’s educational landscape.