Sterling Bank Names First Beneficiaries of ₦2B ‘Beyond Education’ Fund

Lagos, Nigeria – August 7, 2025 – Sterling Bank, Nigeria’s leading financial institution, has announced the first recipients of its ₦2 billion Beyond Education Scholarship, a groundbreaking nationwide initiative designed to fund university education for 600 exceptional young Nigerians and connect them to future careers in high-impact sectors.

The announcement reflects a major step in the Bank’s commitment to long-term, inclusive national development through strategic investment in human capital.

At its core, the Beyond Education program is built not just to provide scholarships, but to create real-world pathways to employment and socio-economic mobility.

Launched in June 2025, Beyond Education is Sterling Bank’s most ambitious education-focused intervention to date. The scholarship fully covers undergraduate tuition at two forward-looking, accredited institutions, Miva Open University, Nigeria’s first licensed online private university, and Hillside University of Science & Technology (HUST), a STEM-centered campus in Ekiti State.

Unlike conventional scholarship programs, Beyond Education is intentionally designed to support Nigeria’s critical development agenda. It aligns with Sterling’s HEART strategy, an investment framework focused on Health, Education, Agriculture, Renewable Energy, and Transportation.

The goal is to build a talent pipeline for sectors that are vital to the country’s future.
“This is more than a scholarship. It’s a national development strategy,” said Obinna Ukachukwu, Growth Executive for Consumer and Business Banking at Sterling Bank. “We’re closing the gap between education and employability. Our mission is to prepare young people for the future of work in sectors that matter most to Nigeria’s progress.”

The first 30 scholars were selected through a transparent, community-driven voting process open to Sterling Bank account holders. All nominees were thoroughly vetted to ensure they met admission requirements at the partner universities.

The inaugural winners are:
Abdulahi Afolabi, Damilare Tijani, Abdulwahab Eniafe, Abubakar Isah, Tahir Enesi Ibrahim, Julius Agbene Agbo, Chinedu Kelechi Patrick, Ayomide Ojo, Fyneseed Nwogu, Miracle Woyinmomoemi Daniel, Serene Clinton, Temiloluwa Orekunrin, Udeme Umoh, Victor Esogwa, Rosemary Kosipre, Ali Mohammed, Usman Isiaka Ololade, Kayode Aikulola, Saviour Philip, Ademola Afolabi, Emmanuel Enekwa, Bashir Sani Ibrahim, Ezekiel Adeseye, Deborah Umeaku, Abba Kaka Lawan, Haisam Sunusi Mahmuda, John Gumuan, Afan Ajiji, Bajepade Kehinde, and Chioma Igwe.

While the scholarship covers full tuition, recipients are responsible for associated costs such as internet access, learning materials, and living expenses, a structure designed for sustainability and scale.

To ensure effective rollout, nominations for the next round of candidates will pause until September 2025.

However, voting remains open, and verified nominees are encouraged to continue engaging their communities as the next cohort will be selected in the coming weeks.

With 570 scholarships still to be awarded, Sterling Bank remains committed to expanding access to quality education and helping shape a future-ready workforce for Nigeria.

About Sterling Bank
Sterling Bank is a leading Nigerian financial institution recognized for its innovative HEART strategy, which channels investment into Health, Education, Agriculture, Renewable Energy, and Transportation. The Bank is widely known for its inclusive banking models and purpose-led initiatives that deliver measurable impact. Learn more at www.sterling.ng.

The entire family of Nafisa Abdullah Aminu proudly present her to President Ahmed Bola Tinubu, GCFR, the Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni and the entire Nigerians for recognition after emerging the Best in the world at the UK Global finals 2025 TeenEagle English Language skills Competition recently held at London, UK.

Nafisa, who is just 17 years old, represented Nigeria through the Nigerian Tulip International College, Yobe state, beating 69 countries and 20,000 students that participated , to achieve the enviable position of the World Best in English Language skills.

The Nafisa family is particularly grateful to the Yobe Governor’s efforts in education development that attracted global honour to the nation.

We pray that our daughter would be celebrated and recognised with the National Honours as she made Nigeria proud in achieving significant success in defeating all European native English speakers and other countries.

Hassan Salihu
For the family

TETFund’s Transparency, Focus Earn It a Reputation as One of Nigeria’s Best Government Institutions

The President of the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU), Dr. Smart Olugbeko, has commended the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) for its exceptional performance under the leadership of Arc. Sonny Echono.

Dr. Olugbeko made the remarks during a courtesy visit by Nigerian students from Colleges of Education.

The students had come to thank COEASU for its role in securing the Federal government’s approval of the Dual Mandate for Colleges of Education, granting them degree-awarding status.

Dr. Olugbeko praised TETFund’s transparency and efficiency in disbursing funds to tertiary institutions and its commitment to supporting tertiary education in Nigeria.

He also commended the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, for his transformative activities in the Ministry and support for the implementation of the Dual Mandate.

Dr. Olugbeko reaffirmed COEASU’s commitment to supporting students’ welfare and interests and charged them to shun evil acts and remain good ambassadors of their institutions.

On the degree awarding status for Colleges of Education, Dr. Olugbeko asked the students to appreciate the President, His Excellency, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for signing into law the bill that grants degree awarding status to Colleges of Education and for the president’s positive disposition towards payment of teaching practice stipend to students and lecturers.

Dr. Olugbeko revealed that the implementation is being worked out by the Federal Government while TETFund has been identified as a critical stakeholder in the implementation.

“The involvement of TETFund in the implementation process of the Teaching Practice stipend is a guarantee of its successful execution.

“TETFund under the leadership of Arc. Sonny Echono has transformed into a beacon of excellence in public service, and the major source of running public tertiary institutions in Nigeria.

“We are proud to associate with the Fund. We have every confidence that TETFund will bring its characteristic efficiency and transparency to the process of the implementation of the disbursement of the stipends when the time comes” Dr. Olugbeko said.

The COEASU President thanked the students for their visit and reaffirmed the Union’s commitment to supporting their welfare and interests.

He assured them that COEASU would continue to work tirelessly to ensure that their concerns are addressed and their needs are met.

Earlier, the Students’ Spokesperson, Comrade Ahmed Akande, commended the COEASU leadership for its efforts in ensuring the realisation of the Dual Mandate in Colleges of Education.

He charged the leadership of the Union to ensure that the Federal government pays students on teaching practice monthly stipends, just like their counterparts in Engineering and Medicine who receive stipends during industrial attachment or housemanship.