Dangote Foundation Gives BUK Business Students N1.5bn Scholarship Boost
By Patience Ikpeme
Students at the Dangote Business School within Bayero University Kano (BUK) have received a massive financial boost following a new agreement between the Aliko Dangote Foundation (ADF) and the university.
On Tuesday, both parties signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) worth N1.5 billion. This deal ensures that N300 million will be provided every year for the next five years to support postgraduate students studying for their MBA, as well as those in entrepreneurship and management courses.
Under this new arrangement, which was signed by ADF Board Member Hajiya Mariya Aliko Dangote and the BUK Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Haruna Musa, each qualified student will receive N150,000 per session. This amount covers exactly half of the N300,000 tuition fee currently paid by the students. The support starts immediately with the 2024/25 academic session and will benefit over 1,200 fresh and returning students.
Aliko Dangote, the Chairman of the Foundation, spoke through Hajiya Mariya Aliko Dangote during the ceremony. He explained that the move is part of a plan to turn knowledge into real businesses and jobs.
“Our vision at the Foundation is to build human capital that translates into economic opportunity. Strengthening business and entrepreneurship education is critical to turning knowledge into enterprise, innovation, and jobs. This scholarship deepens our commitment to Dangote Business School by investing directly in the next generation of business leaders and change-makers,” he said.
The Vice-Chancellor of Bayero University, Prof. Haruna Musa, expressed his gratitude, noting that the scholarship has come at a time when many families are struggling with finances. He stated that the help will make the school a better place for training leaders, especially women who are becoming more active in business leadership.
“This support comes at a critical time for many families. Beyond financial relief, it strengthens the Business School’s role as a centre for developing entrepreneurial and management talent, particularly for women who are increasingly taking leadership roles in enterprise,” the Vice-Chancellor noted.
One of the students, Khalid Bababubu, who is studying for an MBA in Finance and Investment, spoke on behalf of his colleagues. He thanked Aliko Dangote for his kindness and promised that the students would work hard to show they deserve the support.
“We are happy to be beneficiaries of this initiative. Education is the bedrock of national development, and we will not take this scholarship for granted,” Bababubu said.
This project, named the ‘MHF Dangote Graduate Business Scholarship,’ shows a change in how the Foundation helps the school. In the past, the Foundation focused on building the school’s physical structures, but it is now investing directly in the students themselves.
The Foundation clarified that this scholarship is different from its other science and technology programs for secondary schools. This particular one is strictly for higher-level business training to create experts who can run big companies and create employment.
New students will get an automatic discount when they register, while returning students who have already paid their fees will get a refund for their share. If there is any money left over from the N300 million yearly budget, it will be used to improve the school’s computers and learning tools to make the environment even better for everyone.
