Dangote Foundation to Gift 4M Nigerian Students Free Refinery IPO Shares

The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Education, has commended Alhaji Aliko Dangote and the Aliko Dangote Foundation for an initiative to purchase Dangote Refinery Initial Public Offering (IPO) shares on behalf of eligible Nigerian tertiary institution students.

The Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, praised the scheme as an innovative approach to promoting financial literacy, youth empowerment, and long-term wealth creation across the nation.

Under the proposed youth empowerment scheme, eligible students aged 18 years and above across Nigerian tertiary institutions will receive 10 IPO shares each, potentially benefiting up to four million students.

Beneficiaries will participate in the program without requiring any prior financial investment or share purchases. The initiative aims to provide students with practical exposure to capital markets, responsible investing, and personal financial planning to prepare them for broader economic participation and self-reliance.

The Ministry noted that the intervention aligns directly with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI) by bridging higher education with enterprise, human capital development, and inclusive economic growth.

While reaffirming its commitment to private sector partnerships that improve educational quality and equip learners with relevant skills, the Ministry clarified that its commendation acknowledges the project’s educational value and does not constitute an official endorsement of any particular investment decision. Dr. Alausa encouraged other corporate organizations to emulate the gesture to help build a generation of financially informed and economically productive entrepreneurs.