Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, has launched the continent’s largest private education initiative, committing N100 billion annually — over N1 trillion in the next decade — to provide scholarships and infrastructure support for more than 1.325 million Nigerian students from primary to tertiary levels.

Speaking at the Aliko Dangote Foundation Education Summit, Dangote described education as “the strongest engine of social mobility” and pledged 25% of his personal wealth to guarantee long-term funding.

The program begins in 2026 with 45,000 beneficiaries, scaling to 155,000 annually from 2029, and will run for 10 years.

Breakdown of the Four Pillars:

• Aliko Dangote STEM Scholars: 30,000 undergraduates yearly in public universities/polytechnics — full tuition in Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics.
• Aliko Dangote Vocational & Technical Scholars: 5,000 students annually in TVET institutions — tools, materials, stipends, and certification support.
• Aliko Dangote Girls’ Education Initiative: Secondary school scholarships for 100,000+ girls in underserved communities.
• Teacher Excellence & Infrastructure Fund: Training for 10,000 teachers plus upgrades for 500 schools nationwide.

Importantly, 25% of all slots are reserved for students with disabilities, underscoring inclusivity.

Vice President Kashim Shettima, representing President Tinubu, hailed the initiative as “the single largest private investment in Nigeria’s human capital history” and “a generational step toward turning our youth bulge into a global asset.”

Governors, led by Lagos State’s Babajide Sanwo-Olu, pledged full cooperation for implementation.

The program will be independently audited, with annual impact reports published publicly, setting a precedent for transparency in philanthropic investments.

Observers say the fund could reshape Nigeria’s education landscape, bridging gaps in access and quality while inspiring similar large-scale private commitments across Africa.