Federal universities in northern Nigeria are topping the charts in student loan applications as the National Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) continues its massive disbursement of financial aid to tertiary students across the country. New data from NELFUND’s dashboard released on July 29, 2025, reveals that Bayero University Kano leads the list with 26,446 applicants, closely followed by Federal University Dutsin-Ma with 22,656 and Ahmadu Bello University Zaria with 21,166.
Other institutions recording significant loan application numbers include Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto with 16,038, the University of Jos with 15,788, and Federal University of Kashere with 14,517. From the southern region, the University of Uyo registered 13,150 applicants, while the University of Ilorin and Modibbo Adama University of Technology received 11,270 and 11,091 applications respectively, indicating strong national interest in the student loan scheme.
The surge in applications follows the May 24 launch of NELFUND’s student loan portal under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which aims to dismantle financial obstacles and expand access to tertiary education across Nigeria. So far, the agency has disbursed over ₦77 billion to support students, with ₦41.7 billion allocated to 210 accredited institutions for tuition fees and ₦35.3 billion released as upkeep allowances to help students cover their living expenses.
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NELFUND Managing Director, Akinlunde Sawyerr, confirmed that 700,546 students have registered for the loan initiative, out of which 684,017 successfully completed the application process. As of the latest update, 396,252 students have already benefited from the scheme, representing more than half of all applicants.
The programme’s momentum shows no signs of slowing. On July 28 alone, 2,452 new students joined the platform, and 3,069 successfully submitted applications, marking a dramatic 125 per cent increase in daily application success compared to the previous day. Sawyerr also revealed that 97 per cent of registered users were able to submit their applications successfully, thanks to improved platform stability and streamlined processes.
As Nigeria grapples with rising education costs and economic challenges, the NELFUND student loan scheme is proving to be a lifeline for thousands of students, particularly in underserved regions. With federal universities in the North dominating application figures, the data not only highlights regional demand but also signals a growing awareness of the programme’s benefits nationwide.
The student loan initiative is one of the largest education financing reforms in the country’s history and stands as a cornerstone of President Tinubu’s vision to promote inclusive and affordable education for all.
