Sterling Bank has announced a groundbreaking N2 billion scholarship program for 600 young Nigerians in private universities. The initiative, titled “Beyond Education,” was unveiled on Democracy Day and represents a significant step towards building the country’s future leaders by removing barriers to quality education.
According to Abubakar Suleiman, Chief Executive Officer of Sterling Bank, “Progress is not a spectator sport. While others talk about Nigeria’s potential, we are actively investing in it. These scholarships are direct investments in the architects of our future.” The program aims to empower young Nigerians with the knowledge and skills needed to drive the country’s growth and development.
The Sterling Beyond Education program will fully sponsor students to study high-impact fields such as technology, finance, sales, and public health. The scholarship is open to young Nigerians from all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, with a merit-based and inclusive admissions process. Candidates can nominate themselves or be nominated by others, and the final selection will be determined through a public voting process exclusive to Sterling account holders.
Obinna Ukachukwu, Growth Executive leading the Retail & Consumer Banking Directorate at Sterling Bank, emphasized the importance of inclusive investment, saying, “This initiative goes beyond access to education; it’s access to a future. Education remains the most valuable asset anyone can have, and we’re proud to stand behind young Nigerians as they claim it.”
The pilot program is in partnership with Miva University, founded by tech entrepreneur Sim Shagaya and accredited by the National Universities Commission. Miva University is redefining higher education in Africa with scalable, affordable, and flexible programs tailored to the demands of the digital economy.
This initiative reflects Sterling Bank’s commitment to shifting from short-term philanthropy to long-term ecosystem development. With significant investments in digitized healthcare, school financing, agricultural cooperatives, solar energy, and low-cost transport systems, Sterling is building pathways to inclusive prosperity.
As Suleiman noted, “We’re moving beyond charity. 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, and the program is expected to make a lasting impact on the lives of young Nigerians and the future of the country.
