The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has lauded the Aliko Dangote Foundation over its newly unveiled ₦100 billion annual education scholarship initiative, describing it as a landmark private-sector intervention capable of transforming Nigeria’s education landscape.
The decade-long programme, which is expected to benefit over 1.3 million Nigerian students in public secondary and tertiary institutions, was unveiled in Lagos on Thursday, with Vice President Kashim Shettima representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
NELFUND said the initiative aligns squarely with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly its drive to expand access to quality education and remove financial barriers confronting Nigerian students.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Friday, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NELFUND, Mr Akintunde Sawyerr, commended the Dangote Foundation for what he described as visionary leadership and a strong commitment to national development.
Sawyerr noted that the scholarship scheme complements the President’s education financing reforms and reinforces ongoing efforts to empower young Nigerians through inclusive access to learning.
“The Dangote Foundation’s ₦100 billion annual scholarship scheme directly supports the President’s agenda of eliminating financial constraints to education and equipping the next generation of Nigerian talent,” he said.
He explained that the initiative’s focus on public secondary schools, public tertiary institutions and a dedicated Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) track would significantly boost national efforts to widen education financing and skills development.
The NELFUND boss also expressed the Fund’s readiness to collaborate with the Dangote Foundation and relevant government agencies to ensure transparency, efficiency and maximum impact.
“NELFUND stands ready to engage 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 limitations,” Sawyerr added.
He stressed that sustainable progress in the education sector requires strong partnerships between government, the private sector and development stakeholders, in line with President Tinubu’s call for shared responsibility in nation-building.
NELFUND further congratulated the Dangote Foundation on what it described as a historic intervention and expressed confidence that the scholarship scheme would leave a lasting and transformative legacy on Nigeria’s education system.
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