Sterling Bank unveils first 99 scholars of N2bn education fund

Sterling Bank reveals the first 99 beneficiaries of its N2bn Beyond Education Scholarship Fund, committing to advancing higher education in Nigeria

Sterling Bank has officially announced the first 99 recipients of its ambitious N2 billion Beyond Education Scholarship Fund at the recent Sterling Leadership Series (SLS), held at the Alliance Française de Lagos / Mike Adenuga Centre.

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Launched earlier this year, the scholarship fund represents one of the boldest private-sector investments in higher education in Nigeria’s history.

The initiative is part of Sterling’s HEART strategy—focusing on Health, Education, Agriculture, Renewable Energy, and Transportation—to foster sustainable national development.

Temitayo Adegoke, Chief Operating Officer of Sterling Bank, described the unveiling as a “clarion call for a new era,” emphasising the bank’s commitment to education as a powerful tool for transformation.

“At Sterling, we see education as the most powerful tool for transformation. We have invested, and will continue to invest, in programmes that extend access to quality education and create pathways for real-world opportunities,” Adegoke said.

The event gathered leading voices from entrepreneurship, policy, and education, including Sim Shagaya, founder of uLesson and Miva University; Dr Ayoteju Ogun, Deputy Director at the Nigerian Universities Commission; and David Adebayo, Sterling Bank’s Chief Entrepreneur.

Together, they encouraged Africa to move beyond traditional education models and embrace creativity, adaptability, and lifelong learning as essential for growth in the evolving economy.

Sterling Bank’s Managing Director and CEO, Abubakar Suleiman, reiterated the vision behind the SLS, stating, “Our young people have the talent, the curiosity, and the courage. What they need are the right opportunities, and we are creating the platforms, the tools, and the pathways to unlock Nigeria’s greatest dividend: its people.”

The unveiling of the first 99 scholars was met with widespread applause and recognised not only as an academic milestone but also a powerful statement of the bank’s values.

“With N2 billion committed to opportunity, Sterling Bank is rewriting the script for how financial institutions shape a nation’s future, placing people at the centre and turning investment into lasting impact,” the bank said.

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The Sterling Leadership Series is a quarterly interactive forum that connects leaders across industries to inspire bold ideas and drive transformative conversations that deliver measurable social and economic impact.