csrreporters 
Sterling Bank has officially unveiled the first 99 recipients of its ₦2 billion Beyond Education Scholarship Fund, a bold initiative aimed at transforming access to higher education for young Nigerians.
The announcement was made during the Sterling Leadership Series (SLS) held at the Alliance Française de Lagos / Mike Adenuga Centre. The event marked a major step in the bank’s mission to empower the next generation through academic investment and social impact.
The scholarship fund, launched earlier in 2025, is one of the largest private sector commitments to education in Nigeria’s history. It supports Sterling Bank’s HEART strategy focusing on Health, Education, Agriculture, Renewable Energy, and Transportation and underscores its belief in education as a cornerstone for sustainable development.
We see education as the most powerful tool for transformation,” said Temitayo Adegoke, Chief Operating Officer of Sterling Bank. “This is more than financial aid, it’s about unlocking potential, removing barriers, and building a future where every Nigerian child has a chance to succeed.
The SLS event featured leading figures from the education and innovation sectors, including Sim Shagaya (founder of uLesson and Miva University), Dr. Ayoteju Ogun of the Nigerian Universities Commission, and David Adebayo, Chief Entrepreneur at Sterling Bank. Discussions focused on the need to evolve beyond traditional education and prepare youth for a rapidly changing world driven by technology, creativity, and global thinking.
Sterling Bank’s MD/CEO, Abubakar Suleiman, described the initiative as a blueprint for how financial institutions can do more than banking they can build nations.
“Our young people already have the talent and drive. What they need are the tools and platforms. With this scholarship, we’re not just giving hope, we’re building a future,” Suleiman said. The unveiling of the first cohort of 99 scholars was met with a standing ovation, celebrated as a powerful reminder of what’s possible when social responsibility meets strategic investment.
The Beyond Education Scholarship Fund is already sparking conversations across the country about equity, access, and opportunity. With ₦2 billion committed to nurturing talent, Sterling Bank is helping rewrite the story of education in Nigeria one student at a time.
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