Dangote Unveils Trillion Naira Education Fund

Aliko Dangote has launched a N1 trillion education support fund designed to help more than 1.3 million Nigerian students stay in school over the next decade.

The initiative, announced on Thursday in Lagos, will provide N100 billion every year to learners across all 774 local government areas.

Dangote said the programme was created to remove financial obstacles that force many young people out of the classroom. It will begin supporting 45,000 students in 2026 and expand to 155,000 yearly by the fourth year. The plan includes scholarships for university and polytechnic students in STEM fields, support for technical and vocational trainees, funding for girls in public secondary schools and large-scale teacher development across the country.

The Presidency welcomed the scheme, saying it strengthens ongoing government efforts to improve human capital and expand access to education. Vice President Kashim Shettima described the plan as a major contribution to national development and a boost to reforms designed to prepare Nigeria for a skills-driven global economy.

The initiative will use a digital, merit-based system for selecting and monitoring beneficiaries, working with agencies such as NELFUND, JAMB, NIMC, WAEC and NECO. A steering committee chaired by the Emir of Lafia, Justice Sidi Dauda Bage, will oversee implementation and track results, with a full review set for 2030.

Dangote said he is committing 25 percent of his personal wealth to the Foundation to ensure long-term sustainability. He added that the goal is to give every deserving child the chance to learn without financial pressure and to encourage broader partnerships across government, the private sector and communities.

State governors, traditional rulers and education officials who attended the launch praised the initiative and pledged support, noting that every local government is expected to benefit from the decade-long programme.