By Auwal Ahmad Umar

Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest man and Chairman of the Aliko Dangote Foundation (ADF), unveiled a ₦1 trillion national scholarship program designed to expand access to education and strengthen human capital development across Nigeria on Thursday.

The initiative, which takes off in 2026, will run for 10 years with an annual commitment of ₦100 billion. More than 1.3 million students from all 774 local government areas are expected to benefit.Speaking at the launch in Abuja, Mr Dangote said the scholarship scheme aims to support Nigeria’s most vulnerable learners, noting that many young people drop out of school due to financial hardship rather than lack of ability. He described the intervention as a strategic investment in the country’s future, insisting that every child kept in school strengthens the economy and reduces inequality.

The program is structured in three components. The Aliko Dangote STEM Scholars category will support 30,000 undergraduates in public universities and polytechnics, who will receive up to ₦600,000 annually for tuition. The Aliko Dangote Technical Scholars component will support 5,000 trainees in technical and vocational institutions with essential tools and learning materials. The MHF Dangote Secondary School Girls Scholars scheme will provide uniforms, books and learning supplies to 10,000 girls in public secondary schools, with priority given to states with large out-of-school populations.

To guarantee transparency, the Foundation will use a fully digital and merit-based selection process, implemented in partnership with NELFUND, JAMB, NIMC, NUC, NBTE, WAEC and NECO. Heads of the agencies were present at the launch to affirm their support.

A Programme Steering Committee chaired by the Emir of Lafia, Justice Sidi Dauda Bage, will oversee implementation. The committee includes former vice-chancellors, senior education administrators and representatives of the Dangote family. Mr Dangote also disclosed that 25 per cent of his personal wealth has been committed to the Foundation to sustain the initiative, with progress to be reviewed under the Dangote Group Vision 2030 plan.

He emphasised that no single organisation can solve Nigeria’s education challenges alone, and he called for stronger collaboration between government, the private sector, and communities.

Vice President Kashim Shettima described the scholarship scheme as the largest private-sector education support programme in Nigeria’s history, calling it “nation-building in its purest form.” He warned that a population becomes a liability only when uneducated and said the initiative aligns with the government’s efforts to improve Nigeria’s human capital index through NELFUND, UBEC, TETFUND and expanded technical and vocational programmes.

Education Minister Prof. Tunji Alausa said the intervention fits into the Tinubu administration’s plan to transition Nigeria from a resource-dependent economy to a knowledge-driven one. He noted that by the end of the program’s first decade, more than 170,000 girls would have gained access to secondary education through the scheme.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who represented the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, commended Mr Dangote and pledged the support of state governments.

The Emir of Lafia praised Mr Dangote’s patriotism, while the Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, described the intervention as transformational and timely. United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed, speaking virtually, said the scholarship will give children the opportunity to learn and enable families to thrive.

The ₦1 trillion scholarship programme represents the most extensive private education funding initiative ever undertaken in Nigeria. According to the ADF, the scheme is expected to improve school retention, completion rates and long-term socioeconomic outcomes for beneficiaries nationwide.

By Tada Jutha, Maiduguri

Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum has, on Wednesday, declared open the 28th quarterly meeting of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), stating that the State Government invested over N53.6 billion in the education sector this year.

The two-day meeting held in Maiduguri brought together executive chairmen and management of the State Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEBs) from across the federation.

In his opening address, Governor Zulum pointed out the importance of education in fostering peace and development.

He highlighted the state’s giant investments in rebuilding educational facilities destroyed by Boko Haram insurgents, including the construction of 104 mega secondary schools and the recruitment of thousands of teachers in the past six years.

“This administration has prioritised the strengthening of our teaching workforce, with an investment of ₦4 billion in teacher training.

“This effort includes a comprehensive verification and professionalisation exercise and the recruitment of 4,000 qualified teachers with an intensive training program for over 11,000 basic-level teachers.”

Beside the teachers’ training, Zulum added, “We promptly implemented the minimum wage to improve teachers’ welfare through measures comprising rural posting allowances, construction of teachers’ quarters in the three senatorial districts, and the offsets of outstanding gratuities.

This year alone, the state has invested ₦18.99 billion in some major education infrastructure across all local government areas.

He explained that two of these projects are among those commissioned by the Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Olatunji Alausa.

In the tertiary education sector, the state also made notable progress through major infrastructure upgrades, expanded staffing and sustained accreditation efforts.

The execution of capital projects in key educational institutions cost about N7b, he added.

“We approved an additional N1 billion to support the transition of the College of Education into a fully fledged Federal University of Agriculture and Entrepreneurship (FUAE). Bama

Other additional expenditures cover infrastructure upgrades to support technical and vocational education, investments in ICT and digital literacy, scholarships, and support for Arabic and Almajiri education.

In his remarks, the Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Olatunji Alausa, charged delegates to engage in purposeful and productive discussions.

He emphasised that the outcomes of the meeting must translate into actionable policies that address current challenges, such as out-of-school children, teacher development, and infrastructure deficits.

Similarly, the Executive Secretary of UBEC, Aisha Garba, called for an insightful deliberation. She stressed the importance of the quarterly meeting as a vital platform for peer review, experience sharing, and strategic alignment between the federal and state levels.

Before the opening ceremony, the minister of education, alongside Governor Zulum and the UBEC executive secretary, commissioned three newly completed mega schools in Maiduguri.

Zulum’s Model Schools Impress FG, Minister Pushes for Digital, Safer Learning Nationwide

By Tada Jutha, Maiduguri

The Minister of Education, Professor Maruf Olatunji Alausa, has urged Chairmen of State Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEBs) to prioritise upgrading schools to deliver a digitalised and secure learning environment across Nigeria.

Alausa, who addressed the SUBEB chairmen and secretaries at their 28th quarterly meeting in Maiduguri described every classroom as “a powerful tool against poverty and unemployment” in all 744 local councils.

He emphasised that closing gaps in access to education must now be driven by modern, technology-enabled systems.

He explained that the push for digital transformation in basic education would help the 37 state boards standardise school structures and ensure they are equipped with modern teaching and learning facilities.

Citing Borno State as an exemplary model, the minister praised Governor Babagana Zulum’s “exceptional leadership”, noting that he has built and furnished 410 secondary schools, including 104 mega schools spread across the state’s 25 Local Government Areas.

According to him, these investments are providing a digitalised and solid learning foundation capable of reducing poverty and unemployment, particularly among young people and women.

“This is a symbol of excellence and resilience from the governor and his people in the education sector,” Alausa said.

In her remarks, the Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Hajiya Aisha Garba, acknowledged persistent challenges in implementing basic education policies, especially those aimed at expanding access.

She revealed that despite ongoing digitalisation efforts, the commission has only been able to reach about two million children.

Garba urged SUBEB members to intensify efforts to rebuild and modernise schools, stressing that transforming basic education remains essential to unlocking children’s potential and strengthening key sectors of the national economy.