• Dangote Foundation pledges 1 trillion naira for Nigerian education over decade

• Funding targets STEM, girls’ education, teacher training from 2026

• Pledge aims to tackle out-of-school crisis, build skilled workforce
  

The Aliko Dangote Foundation pledged on Wednesday to commit 1 trillion naira ($689 million) to education programmes in Nigeria over the next ten years. The sum is equivalent to roughly 30% of the federal education budget for 2025, which stands at 3.52 trillion naira ($2.4 billion).

The nonprofit organisation said the funding is expected to benefit 45,000 students starting in 2026, and ultimately nearly 1.33 million students. According to details reported by Bloomberg, the foundation plans to prioritise Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education, girls’ schooling and teacher training.

“We cannot let financial difficulties stifle the dreams of our young people. [...] This is not just charity. It is a strategic investment in Nigeria’s future. Every child we keep in school strengthens our economy. Every student we support reduces inequalities,” said Aliko Dangote, president of the foundation.

The timeline for disbursing the funds has not been disclosed. The pledge is expected to boost Nigeria’s education sector, which faces several challenges. The most populous country in Africa has the world’s highest number of out-of-school children, according to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

“With a population of around 224 million people, including 110 million children (63% under 25), the country’s education system struggles to provide quality teaching at scale. One in five children of primary school age (10.5 million, or 25.6%) is not in school, and girls represent 60% of these out-of-school children,” the U.N. agency highlighted on its website last February.

In this context, calls are increasing for greater investment to improve human capital and provide the labour market with a skilled workforce, as the youth population continues to grow.

In its latest 2025 country report titled “Making Nigeria’s Capital Work Better for its Development,” the African Development Bank (AfDB) argued for public-private partnerships to mobilise the financing needed for quality teaching and the modernisation of school curricula.

“Technical and Vocational Education and Training and   STEM   disciplines   can   bridge   the   skills   gap   and   boost   innovation.   Reforms   should   ensure up-to-date teaching methods, adequate infrastructure,   and   stakeholder   collaboration.   By    cultivating    practical    competencies    and    entrepreneurial   skills,   Nigeria   can   create   a   dynamic   workforce   capable   of   transforming   challenges    into    opportunities    and    driving    sustainable economic growth,” the financial institution added.

Espoir Olodo