VP Shettima launches Dangote Foundation’s ₦100bn annual scholarship scheme

Calls for greater investment in education

By Kunle Sanni –

Vice President Kashim Shettima says Nigeria’s education sector has received a significant boost with the launch of the Aliko Dangote Foundation Education Scholarship Initiative, a scheme expected to invest ₦100 billion annually in expanding access to quality learning for young people.

Unveiled in Lagos by the Foundation’s President, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, the programme is projected to cost ₦1 trillion over the next decade and will support students across multiple levels through targeted interventions.

Speaking at the event, Shettima praised Dangote’s “visionary and generational philanthropy,” stressing that the private sector must play a central role in securing Nigeria’s educational future. He warned that West Africa’s position as the region with the world’s lowest Human Capital Index demands urgent and sustained investment in young people.

“Now is the time to build a future where every Nigerian child has a fair shot at becoming the best version of themselves,” the Vice President said.

He highlighted the Tinubu administration’s ongoing reforms—including the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), expanded TETFUND support, strengthened UBEC systems, and accelerated technical, vocational, and digital learning initiatives.

Dangote, while unveiling the scheme, assured that beneficiaries will be selected transparently and on merit. He announced partnerships with NELFUND, NECO, WAEC, and other government agencies to ensure accountability, and revealed that he has dedicated 25 percent of his personal wealth to the Foundation—an endowment he said will continue beyond his lifetime.

Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, described the programme as one of the most comprehensive human capital development efforts in Nigeria’s history, noting that 25 percent of the scholarships will be reserved for persons with disabilities.

UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed also praised the expansion of opportunities, especially in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), emphasising the impact of investing in girls’ education.