In July, President Bola Tinubu launched the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) at the State House’s council chamber. Recently, the federal government allocated over N2.5 billion in student loans to more than 22,000 students across the country. However, institutions in the Southeast were notably absent from the list of beneficiaries, raising concerns about a potential exclusion of the region from the program.
NELFUND officials clarified that the exclusion was not due to any geopolitical bias but was a result of the region’s institutions failing to complete necessary verification processes for the disbursement of funds. Issues like incomplete forms or missing Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) results prevented students from successfully applying. Southeast governors and lawmakers are now working to address these issues, with efforts to increase awareness and ensure students in the region can fully benefit from the loan scheme.
Based on the latest data, here are the top 10 Nigerian states with the highest number of students applying for NELFUND loans:
- Taraba State
Located in the North-East, Taraba State has 8,668 students applying for the NELFUND loan out of 10,699 registered students, representing 81.0%. This high participation rate highlights the financial needs of its student population. - Yobe State
Also in the North-East, Yobe State saw 8,966 of its 10,398 registered students apply for the loan, constituting an 86.3% application rate. This suggests a significant demand for financial aid among students in the state. - Adamawa State
Adamawa, another state in the North-East, had 8,977 students out of 11,219 registered students apply for the loan, which is 80.0%. This indicates a substantial portion of students seeking financial assistance for their education. - Oyo State
Part of the South-West region, Oyo State has notable educational institutions but a lower application percentage. Out of 14,086 registered students, 8,990 applied for the loan, representing 63.8%. - Plateau State
In the North-Central region, Plateau State has a strong showing with 9,328 out of 11,624 registered students applying for the loan, making up 80.3%. This reflects a significant reliance on the loan program. - Kaduna State
Located in the North-West, Kaduna State has 10,380 students applying out of 13,873 registered, which is 74.8%. This indicates a considerable demand for financial support among students. - Katsina State
Also in the North-West, Katsina State saw 10,952 out of 13,538 registered students apply for the loan, amounting to 80.9%. This demonstrates a high level of financial need among its students. - Benue State
Benue State in the North-Central region had 11,754 out of 16,127 registered students apply for the loan, reflecting a 72.9% application rate. This highlights the demand for financial support in this agrarian state. - Borno State
Recovering from years of insurgency, Borno State in the North-East had 13,798 out of 16,353 registered students applying for the loan, showing an 84.4% application rate. This underscores the significant reliance on financial aid for education in the state. - Kano State
Leading the list, Kano State in the North-West has the highest number of students applying for the NELFUND loan. With 17,122 out of 20,814 registered students applying, Kano’s application rate stands at 82.3%, indicating substantial financial challenges faced by students pursuing higher education.