Victoria Mbangwa
The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFund) has revealed that Northern universities emerged as the top beneficiaries in its latest disbursement of N20,075,050,006.55, targeting 192,906 students in public tertiary institutions across Nigeria.
The disbursement, which took effect on January 1, 2025, highlights a concentration of funds in universities in northern Nigeria, including Bayero University, Kano, University of Maiduguri, and Federal University Dutsin-Ma, among others.
Bayero University, Kano, leads the pack, with 11,683 students set to benefit from N1.3bn, closely followed by the University of Maiduguri, which secured N1.27bn for 12,198 students. Federal University Dutsin-Ma and University of Jos also made the top list, receiving N909m and N941m for 8,978 and 6,988 students, respectively.
Commenting on the disbursement, NELFund Managing Director, Akintunde Sawyerr, noted that the fund has maintained its commitment to addressing the financial needs of students nationwide. He added that the latest allocation is part of a broader effort that has seen N110bn distributed across tertiary institutions in the past year.
However, the disparity in allocation has raised questions about the criteria for determining beneficiaries. While some institutions, such as the University of Lagos (N557m for 3,685 students) and University of Ibadan (N746m for 4,907 students), received significant amounts, others, particularly in the southern region, had minimal representation. For instance, Gombe State Polytechnic, Bajoga, had only four students approved to receive N122,000, and Abia State Polytechnic recorded just two beneficiaries set to share N106,300.
This uneven distribution has sparked discussions on the regional dynamics of education funding in Nigeria, with stakeholders urging NELFund to adopt more equitable criteria to ensure that all regions and institutions benefit proportionately.
As the agency continues its efforts to expand access to education through loan disbursements, it faces the challenge of addressing regional imbalances while meeting the growing demand for financial support among Nigerian students.
