Students from Kano, Borno, and Benue states have topped the charts in applications for the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), highlighting a significant demand for financial aid in these regions.
Kano State leads with 17,122 loan applications from its 20,814 registered tertiary students.
This shows a strong interest in securing financial assistance among Kano students. Borno State follows closely, with 13,798 out of 16,353 registered students applying for the loan. Benue State is in third place, with 11,754 applications from 16,127 students.
The data, shared on NELFUND’s social media platform, X (formerly Twitter), offers a comprehensive view of the distribution of registered students and loan applicants across various states.
In comparison, Oyo State had 14,086 students registered, with 8,990 applying. Kaduna State saw 13,873 students register, and 10,380 proceeded with their applications. Katsina State had 13,538 students registered, with 10,952 applying. Osun State, with 13,368 registered students, had 8,093 applications.
Kogi State recorded 12,675 registered students, and 8,400 applied for the loan. Plateau State had 11,624 students registered, with 9,328 applying. Adamawa State saw 11,219 registrations and 8,977 applications, while Kwara State had 11,126 students registered, with 7,645 applying.
In other states, Taraba had 10,699 students registered and 8,668 applications. Yobe State recorded 10,398 registrations, with 8,966 applying. Ogun State saw 10,387 registrations and 5,943 applications, while Akwa Ibom had 9,594 registrations and 6,525 applications.
Bauchi State had 8,358 registrations, with 6,517 applications.
Kebbi State saw 7,873 registrations and 6,333 applications. Gombe State recorded 7,594 registrations and 6,121 applications. Niger State had 7,487 registrations, with 5,804 applications.
Jigawa State had 6,937 registered students, with 5,535 applying. Ondo State saw 6,519 registrations and 3,854 applications. Nasarawa State had 6,192 registrations, with 4,789 applications. Ekiti State recorded 6,065 registrations and 3,497 applications.
In the southeastern region, Imo State had 5,458 registrations with 2,802 applications. Delta State saw 4,943 registrations and 2,771 applications. Ebonyi State had 4,749 registrations with 2,981 applications. Cross River State recorded 4,282 registrations and 2,476 applications.
Enugu State had 4,133 registrations with 2,247 applications. Abia State recorded 4,068 registrations and 2,170 applications.
Lagos State, known for its large student population, had 3,947 registrations and 2,347 applications. Anambra State saw 3,747 students registered, with 1,840 applying. Zamfara State had 3,721 registrations and 2,986 applications.
Edo State recorded 3,612 registrations with 2,149 applications. Rivers State had 3,612 registrations and 2,162 applications. Sokoto State saw 3,014 registrations with 2,055 applications.
In the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, 894 students registered, with 676 submitting applications. Bayelsa State had 1,977 registrations and 1,267 applications.
NELFUND is a government initiative designed to support students in tertiary institutions by providing financial assistance.
This scheme aims to address the rising costs of higher education and help students from low-income families complete their education without financial constraints.
Since its establishment, NELFUND has seen varying levels of participation from different states.
The recent data underscores the growing demand for educational financial support in regions like Kano, Borno, and Benue, which have shown a higher rate of application compared to other states.
