Sterling Bank has announced a bold new initiative tagged Beyond Education, with a commitment of over ₦2 billion towards fully-funded scholarships for 600 young Nigerians to study in a private university. The scholarship program, unveiled on Democracy Day, marks one of the largest private-sector investments ever made in a single Nigerian tertiary institution.
According to the bank, the initiative aims to break financial barriers to quality education and equip future leaders with in-demand skills in fields such as Technology, Finance, Sales, and Public Health. The scholarships are open to candidates from all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
“Progress is not a spectator sport,” said Abubakar Suleiman, Chief Executive of Sterling Bank. “While others talk about Nigeria’s potential, we are actively investing in it. These scholarships are direct investments in the architects of our future.”
Nomination for the program is merit-based and inclusive, allowing young Nigerians to nominate themselves or be nominated by others. Final selection will be determined through a public voting process open exclusively to Sterling account holders via the bank’s website, [www.sterling.ng/FUTURE](http://www.sterling.ng/FUTURE).
The pilot phase of the Beyond Education program will be run in partnership with Miva University, a fully accredited digital-first institution founded by tech entrepreneur Sim Shagaya. Miva is recognised for delivering affordable and flexible programs tailored to the evolving demands of the digital economy.
Obinna Ukachukwu, Growth Executive in charge of Retail and Consumer Banking at Sterling Bank, described the initiative as a shift from charity to long-term ecosystem development. “This goes beyond access to education—it’s access to a future,” he said. “Education remains the most valuable asset, and we’re proud to support young Nigerians in claiming it.”
The scholarship program is an extension of Sterling Bank’s HEART strategy, which focuses investments on Health, Education, Agriculture, Renewable Energy, and Transportation. The bank has already deployed over ₦500 billion across these sectors, with ongoing initiatives in digitised healthcare, school financing, agricultural cooperatives, solar energy, and low-cost transportation.
“This is about building systems that last,” Suleiman added. “It’s not just about hundreds of scholarships. It’s about the future those brilliant young minds will create for our country.”
Sterling Bank is known for its ethical banking approach, customer-first innovation, and social impact. From eliminating local transfer fees via its OneBank platform to driving inclusive capital access, the bank continues to lead with purpose in shaping Nigeria’s development trajectory.