Nigerian Education Loan Fund Reveals Top Applicant States for Student Loans
The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), established under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's administration, continues to provide crucial financial support to students pursuing tertiary education across Nigeria. As of February 2026, the agency has released comprehensive data showing which states have submitted the highest number of applications for these interest-free educational loans.
Regional Distribution of Loan Applications Shows Significant Disparities
The latest statistics reveal a concerning pattern in the geographical distribution of NELFUND applications. Notably, no states from the Southeast or South-South geopolitical regions appear among the top ten applicants, raising questions about regional access to educational funding opportunities. This absence has sparked discussions among education stakeholders and social media commentators about potential barriers to loan accessibility in these regions.
Top 10 States with Highest NELFUND Applications
According to data reported by TheCable, the following states lead in NELFUND loan applications as of February 2026:
- Kano State: 100,886 applications
- Borno State: 99,030 applications
- Kaduna State: 90,691 applications
- Oyo State: 76,576 applications
- Kwara State: 68,086 applications
- Katsina State: 63,226 applications
- Ekiti State: 60,426 applications
- Bauchi State: 59,808 applications
- Lagos State: 58,962 applications
- Gombe State: 56,882 applications
Geopolitical Breakdown of Top Applicant States
The regional distribution among the top ten states shows:
- Northwest Region: Three states (Kano, Kaduna, and Katsina)
- Northeast Region: Three states (Borno, Bauchi, and Gombe)
- Southwest Region: Three states (Lagos, Oyo, and Ekiti)
- North Central Region: One state (Kwara)
This distribution highlights the complete absence of Southeast and South-South states from the top applicant list, despite these regions having significant student populations in tertiary institutions.
Public Reaction and Concerns
The publication of these statistics has generated considerable discussion on social media platforms. One X user, @adebayotosin80, expressed concern about the regional imbalance, questioning whether this represents a systemic issue with government outreach or a deliberate pattern in loan accessibility. Such reactions underscore the importance of ensuring equitable access to educational funding across all Nigerian regions.
NELFUND's Overall Impact and Achievements
Since its inception in 2024, NELFUND has made significant progress in supporting Nigerian students. The latest data reveals that 788,947 students have benefited from the student loan scheme to date, with total loans disbursed reaching N140.88 billion. The agency has recorded 1,193,228 applications from 262 institutions since opening its application portal.
Of the total disbursed funds, N82.34 billion has been allocated for tuition payments to beneficiaries, while N58.53 billion has been distributed as upkeep allowances to support students' living expenses during their studies.
Challenges and Security Concerns
Despite its successes, NELFUND faces ongoing challenges, including fraudulent activities targeting students. The agency has recently exposed a fraudulent website designed to mimic NELFUND's official platform, which was extracting sensitive data from Nigerian students. This highlights the importance of cybersecurity awareness among students seeking educational loans and the need for continued vigilance against financial scams in the education sector.
The Nigerian Education Loan Fund remains committed to its mission of breaking financial barriers to higher education and empowering Nigerian students through accessible, interest-free loan facilities. As the program continues to evolve, stakeholders emphasize the importance of addressing regional disparities to ensure all Nigerian students have equal opportunities to pursue their educational aspirations.
