Business mogul and philanthropist, Aliko Dangote, has announced a commitment of N1 trillion (approximately $688 million) to promote STEM and support girls’ education in Nigeria.

This initiative aims to address barriers to tertiary education for the nation’s economically disadvantaged youths amid international donor funding cuts.

Speaking at the launch of the STEM Scholarship and Girls Education Programme, Dangote said, “This N1 trillion endowment is dedicated to enabling vulnerable students to access quality education, ultimately making a significant difference in their lives.”

The programme is projected to benefit 1,325,000 students across Nigeria’s 774 local council areas over the next 10 years. International Development expert and Executive Director of the Development Research and Projects Centre (dRPC), Dr Judith-Ann Walker, pointed out that Dangote’s decision to invest in education comes at a critical time, especially following the recent reduction in USAID funding for development programmes in Nigeria.

She said, “His investment is timely and will help fill the gap left by international funding cuts.”

Dr Walker, in a statement by the dRPC Director of Communication and Partnerships, Hassan Karofi, said the Nigerian Education Forum (NEF) had previously called for innovative funding solutions from the private sector to address anticipated shortfalls in educational resources.

She noted that the success of Dangote’s initiative could serve as an important model for public-private partnerships in advancing educational access.