Indigenous peoples are faced with many challenges today such as extreme poverty, educational disenfranchisement and insurmountable health problems. According to the United Nations Permanent Forum in Indigenous Issues (UNPFII), a major challenge for indigenous peoples in Nigeria is access to education. The education gap between indigenous and non-indigenous peoples remains critical. The number of indigenous people in Nigeria is estimated to be around 50 million. In a world striving for inclusive progress, the equitable access to education opportunities for indigenous people and communities becomes pertinent.

The ARISE Initiative is designed to accelerate SDG 4 through Indigenous People Empowerment and structured to provide post-secondary (tertiary) education scholarships.