Aliko Dangote, chairman of the Dangote Group, has announced a N100 billion annual education support programme aimed at keeping financially vulnerable Nigerian students in school.

Speaking at the launch of the national scholarship scheme in Lagos on Thursday, Dangote said too many brilliant young people were being forced out of classrooms because of poverty.

He described education as the "strongest engine of social mobility" and a critical foundation for national development.

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The initiative, funded by the Aliko Dangote Foundation, will run for ten years beginning in 2026, costing over N1 trillion in total.

Dangote said the scheme would support 45,000 scholars each year at inception, expanding to 155,000 beneficiaries annually by its fourth year, and maintaining that level for the rest of the decade.

By 2036, he said, the programme is expected to have reached at least 1,325,000 students.

"We cannot allow financial hardship to silence the dreams of our young people, not when the future of our nation depends on their skills, resilience and leadership," he added.

A major component of the fund is the Aliko Dangote STEM Scholars programme, which will provide annual scholarships for 30,000 undergraduate students pursuing science, technology, engineering and mathematics in public universities and polytechnics.

Each beneficiary will receive tuition support aligned with the fees of their institution and course of study. Dangote said the goal is to expand access to higher education, empower innovation, and give young Nigerians the tools to compete globally.

"STEM drives development. If Nigeria must compete globally, our young minds must have the tools to learn, imagine and innovate," he said.