Four Million Students To Get Free Dangote Refinery Shares Under Youth Empowerment Scheme
By NINI NDUONOFIT-AKOH & ANITA KNIGHT
THE Federal Government has commended Aliko Dangote and the Aliko Dangote Foundation for a proposed initiative to provide free Dangote Refinery Initial Public Offering (IPO) shares to eligible Nigerian tertiary institution students.
The Minister of Education, Maruf Tunji Alausa, described the initiative as an innovative way to promote financial literacy, empower young people and encourage long-term wealth creation.
Under the proposed scheme, eligible students aged 18 and above across tertiary institutions in Nigeria will receive 10 shares each. Consequently, the initiative could benefit as many as four million students.
Importantly, beneficiaries will not need to invest their own money to participate. Instead, the programme aims to introduce young Nigerians to capital markets, responsible investing and personal financial planning.
According to the Ministry of Education, this practical exposure could help students develop financial knowledge before entering the wider economy. Moreover, it could encourage greater economic participation, self-reliance and a stronger understanding of investment opportunities.
The ministry also said the initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative. Both frameworks, it noted, emphasise human capital development, enterprise and inclusive economic growth.
Meanwhile, the government reaffirmed its commitment to partnerships with private organisations that support education and equip students with relevant skills. It also urged other corporate bodies to consider similar interventions that could improve young people’s economic prospects.
However, the ministry clarified that its commendation focused on the scheme’s educational value. It stressed that the statement did not amount to an official endorsement of any particular investment decision.
If implemented as proposed, the initiative could give millions of students an opportunity to learn about share ownership and financial planning. Nevertheless, further details about the scheme’s implementation and the distribution of the shares will be important in determining how students benefit.
