Nigerian billionaire and industrialist, Aliko Dangote, has unveiled a $700 million education fund aimed at tackling the country’s out-of-school rates and enhancing technical skills for the next generation of Nigerian professionals.
Speaking during a high-profile panel discussion alongside global figures including Bill Gates and Sheikha Al Mayassa, Dangote emphasised the importance of innovation, philanthropy, and strategic partnerships in reshaping educational opportunities across Africa.
“In Africa, we have a population of about 1.4 billion people, so partnership is important,” Dangote said.
“That is why we partnered with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to eradicate polio in Nigeria.
”We have a lot of children that are out of school, so next week we will launch a $700 million fund to fund education. We will run it for ten years, then review,” he said.
Dangote also highlighted the importance of technical training, citing the Dangote Petrochemical refinery, which has trained more than 50,000 Nigerians to operate the 160,000-barrel-per-day facility.
“The skilled workforce will be redeployed as part of the refinery’s ongoing expansion, while our investment in education will increase talent for industries across Nigeria,” he said.
The fund is expected to provide increased access to quality education, reduce the number of out-of-school children, and foster a pipeline of skilled professionals capable of supporting Nigeria’s industrial and economic development.
The announcement marks one of the largest private sector-led education initiatives in Africa, with a focus on equipping young Nigerians with the skills necessary for emerging industries and technological innovation.
With a decade-long horizon, the fund reflects a long-term strategy to align education with Nigeria’s growing industrial and economic ambitions, while addressing systemic gaps in access and technical capacity.
