In a landmark move set to reshape Nigeria's educational landscape, the Aliko Dangote Foundation (ADF) has launched a monumental N1 trillion scholarship programme. Announced on January 10, 2026, this decade-long initiative represents the largest private-sector education intervention in the nation's history, directly targeting the funding gaps and high dropout rates that plague the sector.
A Multi-Pronged Attack on Educational Exclusion
The ambitious scheme is designed to reach over 1.3 million students across all 774 local government areas in Nigeria. It will adopt a fully digital, merit-based system for selection and fund disbursement to ensure transparency and efficiency. The programme is structured into four key components to address the most acute areas of need.
Firstly, the Aliko Dangote STEM Scholars programme will fund 30,000 undergraduate students annually studying science, technology, engineering, and mathematics in public universities and polytechnics, with tuition aligned to actual institutional fees.
Secondly, the Aliko Dangote Technical Scholars initiative will provide 5,000 students in public technical and vocational institutions with yearly support for tools, materials, and essential training, complementing the government's free tuition policy for TVET students.
A significant focus on gender inclusion is seen in the MHF Dangote Secondary School Girls Scholars, named after Dangote's daughters—Mariya, Halima, and Fatima. This will support 20,000 public-school girls yearly from JSS1 to SSS3, with continued support into tertiary education, prioritising states with the highest number of out-of-school girls.
Finally, recognising the critical role of educators, the Dangote Teacher Training Programme will launch a large-scale development scheme. It begins with 10,000 secondary-school STEM teachers in 39 government colleges attended by MHF scholars, with plans to expand across all six geopolitical zones.
Strategic Investment, Not Charity
At the launch event in Lagos, Aliko Dangote framed the initiative as a crucial investment in Nigeria's human capital. "This is not only charity. This is a strategic investment in Nigeria’s future," he stated. "Every child we keep in school strengthens our economy. Every student we support reduces inequality." He emphasised that financial hardship, not a lack of talent, is the primary barrier forcing many young Nigerians out of school.
The programme will support 45,000 new students annually from 2026, scaling up to 155,000 beneficiaries by the fourth year, and maintaining that level for the full ten-year duration. Dangote stressed that the foundation's effort is a starting point, calling for collaboration across government, the private sector, and communities to transform education.
To ensure robust implementation, a programme steering committee has been constituted, chaired by Justice Sidi Bage, the Emir of Lafia. The committee includes former vice-chancellors, senior education administrators, and technical advisors. The scheme's long-term sustainability is anchored to Dangote's formal commitment to allocate 25% of his wealth to the ADF, with a major review scheduled for 2030 as part of the Dangote Group's Vision 2030 strategy.
Alignment with National Development Goals
The initiative received high-level commendation from Nigeria's leadership. Vice President Kashim Shettima, who was present at the launch, described it as "nation-building in its purest form." He highlighted the urgency of investing in education to harness Nigeria's demographic potential, warning that "a population becomes a liability only when it is uneducated."
Education Minister, Prof. Tunji Alausa, hailed the programme as "pure human capital development," noting its alignment with the Tinubu administration's plan to transition Nigeria to a knowledge-based economy. He projected that by the end of the first decade, the MHF scholars alone would have enrolled an estimated 170,000 girls, significantly helping to close the gender gap in education.
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, speaking on behalf of the 36 state governors, pledged their full support and praised Dangote's "purposeful leadership." The Chairman of the programme steering committee, Justice Sidi Bage, underscored the unprecedented scale, noting the "multiplier effect on our human capital, social development indicators and overall economic prosperity will be absolutely unprecedented."
This new scholarship scheme builds upon the foundation's existing substantial investments in education, which include university hostels, the Mu Shuka Iri early-learning programme in Kano, the Aliko Dangote School for Orphan Girls in Maiduguri, and a N15 billion pledge to upgrade the Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology in Wudil. It marks a decisive, private-sector-led leap forward in the collective mission to educate and empower Nigeria's next generation.
