Over 1.3 Million Students Apply for NELFUND Loans, Northern States Dominate Applications

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13/01/26 • 17 Vues • 0 Partager • Publié dans Autre

Fresh data from the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) reveals strong regional, state-level, and institutional patterns in student demand for education financing across the country. As of early Ja..

Fresh data from the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) reveals strong regional, state-level, and institutional patterns in student demand for education financing across the country. As of early January 2026, total applications have reached approximately 1.35 million, highlighting the growing reliance of Nigerian students on federal loan support to fund tertiary education.

Regional Breakdown Highlights Northern Dominance

By geo-political zone, the North continues to record the highest volume of applications, reflecting economic pressures and the concentration of large federal universities. The South-West follows, while the South-South and South-East report comparatively lower uptake, prompting questions about awareness and accessibility in these regions.

NELFUND Applications by Zone:

North-West: 350,676
North-East: 295,969
South-West: 275,312
North-Central: 232,572
South-South: 111,701
South-East: 80,834

Together, these six zones account for approximately 1.35 million prospective beneficiaries nationwide.

State-Level Insights

At the state level, Borno State tops the chart with 89,631 applications, largely driven by prolonged economic hardship and the presence of major federal universities. Kano State follows closely, reflecting its population size and robust tertiary education sector, while Kaduna ranks third.

Top 10 States by NELFUND Applications:

Borno – 89,631
Kano – 84,782
Kaduna – 76,307
Oyo – 61,337
Katsina – 60,667
Kwara – 56,806
Bauchi – 51,914
Lagos – 51,450
Gombe – 48,001
Ekiti – 46,468

Oyo State emerges as the highest-ranked southern state, while Lagos, despite its economic prominence, ranks eighth. Ekiti’s presence underscores growing awareness of the loan scheme even in smaller states with strong academic cultures.

Institutional Uptake Dominated by Federal Universities

Institutional figures highlight the dominance of public universities, particularly federal institutions in the North. University of Maiduguri leads all institutions with 60,307 applications, followed by Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (37,192) and University of Ilorin (34,613).

Top 10 Institutions by NELFUND Applications:

University of Maiduguri – 60,307
Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria – 37,192
University of Ilorin – 34,613
Bayero University, Kano – 32,297
Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto – 29,077
Federal University Dutsin-Ma, Katsina – 26,956
Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology – 26,034
Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta – 25,970
University of Jos – 25,960
Federal University Oye-Ekiti – 25,515

Education analysts note that the prevalence of federal universities among the top applicants reflects higher awareness, accessibility, and trust in NELFUND among public institutions. Conversely, students in private universities may face barriers such as limited information or hesitation to take loans.

Implications and Way Forward

The lower uptake from the South-East and South-South has prompted discussions around cultural attitudes to borrowing, stronger family-based funding systems, and limited outreach. Experts emphasise that the disaggregated data should guide targeted sensitisation campaigns and policy refinements to ensure equitable access across regions.

With over a million applications already recorded, NELFUND is rapidly establishing itself as a cornerstone of Nigeria’s strategy to broaden access to higher education and alleviate financial barriers for students nationwide.

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