Nigeria’s most forward-looking financial institution, Sterling Bank, has announced an almost ₦2bn pledge for fully-funded private university scholarships for young Nigerians.
Unveiled on Democracy Day, the project named Beyond Education, takes a crucial step towards shaping the country’s future leaders by reducing the obstacles that restrict millions of Nigerians from receiving excellent, future-focused learning.
This is one of the greatest private sector investments ever made in a single Nigerian postsecondary institution. It continues Sterling’s historic commitment to the HEART sectors: Health, Education, Agriculture, Renewable Energy, and Transportation.
The bank has invested almost half a trillion naira in financing and development activities across these crucial sectors.
"Progress is not a spectator sport," remarked Abubakar Suleiman, Chief Executive of Sterling Bank. "While others speak about Nigeria's potential, we are actually investing in it. These scholarships are direct investments in the architects of our future. We are sponsoring the education of future leaders
who will construct the businesses, systems, institutions and solutions Nigeria needs to flourish."
The Sterling Beyond Education initiative will completely finance 600 students to study high-impact disciplines such as Technology, Finance, Sales, and Public Health. It is available to young Nigerians from all 36 states and the FCT, with a merit-based and inclusive admissions procedure.
Candidates may nominate themselves or be nominated by others, and ultimate selection will be selected via a public vote procedure available solely to Sterling account holders.
“This is what inclusive investment looks like,” said Obinna Ukachukwu, Growth Executive managing the Retail & Consumer Banking Directorate at Sterling Bank. “This initiative goes beyond access to education, it’s access to a future. Education is the most precious possession someone can have, and we’re happy to stand alongside young Nigerians as they claim it.”
The pilot program is in conjunction with Miva University, created by famous software entrepreneur, Sim Shagaya. Fully approved by the National Universities Commission, Miva is revolutionizing higher education in Africa with scalable, cheap, and flexible programs adapted to the needs of the
digital economy.
The program also reflects Sterling’s advocacy for organisations to shift from short-term
philanthropy to long-term ecosystem development. With major investments in digital healthcare, school funding, agricultural cooperatives, solar energy, and low-cost transit networks, Sterling is establishing routes to equitable prosperity.
“We’re moving beyond charity,” Suleiman added. “This is about building systems that last and it is much bigger than hundreds of scholarships. It’s about the future those brilliant young minds will build for our country.”
Nominations are now open at www.sterling.ng/FUTURE. As Africa’s youth population continues to grow, initiatives like Beyond Education may point to a new blueprint for private sector leadership,
one where impact is measured not just in profit, but in people empowered.
About Sterling Bank
Sterling Bank is a leading Nigerian commercial bank and one of Africa’s most progressive financial institutions, widely recognised for its bold approach to customer advocacy and ethical banking.
From eliminating local transfer fees through its OneBank platform to championing inclusive access to capital, the bank has consistently led with impact. Renowned for its HEART of Sterling strategy, which focuses major investments into the Healthcare, Education, Agriculture, Renewable Energy, and Transportation sectors of the Nigerian
economy, Sterling continues to build innovative solutions that go beyond banking to enable dignity, mobility, and opportunity for millions of Nigerians. Explore Sterling Bank offerings at sterling.ng.