Sterling Bank Champions Learning with N2bn Scholarship Rollout

Sterling Bank has announced the first set of 99 beneficiaries of its N2 billion Beyond Education Scholarship Fund during the latest edition of the Sterling Leadership Series held at the Alliance Française de Lagos/Mike Adenuga Centre.

The initiative, launched earlier this year, represents one of the most ambitious private-sector commitments to higher education in Nigeria. It provides full tuition support for outstanding students and is aligned with the bank’s HEART strategy, which focuses on Health, Education, Agriculture, Renewable Energy, and Transportation.

Speaking at the event, the bank’s Chief Operating Officer, Temitayo Adegoke, described the unveiling as the beginning of a new era. He emphasized that education remains the most powerful tool for transformation and reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to extending access to quality learning while creating pathways to real-world opportunities.

The forum featured influential voices from across policy, education, and entrepreneurship, including uLesson and Miva University founder Sim Shagaya; Deputy Director at the Nigerian Universities Commission, Dr. Ayoteju Ogun; and Sterling Bank’s Chief Entrepreneur, David Adebayo. Discussions at the event highlighted the need for Africa to move beyond traditional education models and embrace creativity, adaptability, and lifelong learning as engines of progress in the modern economy.

Reinforcing this vision, the bank’s Managing Director and Chief Executive, Abubakar Suleiman, said the Sterling Leadership Series was designed to set a benchmark for innovation and transformation. According to him, Nigeria’s youth possess talent, curiosity, and courage, but require the right platforms and opportunities to unlock their full potential.

The unveiling of the inaugural 99 scholars was met with resounding applause, celebrated as both an academic milestone and a demonstration of the bank’s values. With N2 billion committed to educational opportunity, Sterling Bank signaled a bold approach to nation-building—placing people at the centre of its strategy and turning investment into lasting impact.

The Sterling Leadership Series, a quarterly interactive platform, continues to bring together thought leaders across sectors to inspire bold ideas and drive conversations that translate into measurable change.