Nigeria’s Student Loan Scheme Sees Over 451,000 Successful Applications in 17 Months: Top 10 Institutions With Highest Number Of Applications

Nigeria’s Student Loan Scheme Sees Over 451,000 Successful Applications in 17 Months: Top 10 Institutions With Highest Number Of Applications

Nigeria’s new student loan programme NELFUND has rapidly emerged as one of the nation’s most closely monitored education-finance initiatives, attracting massive interest from students struggling to cope with rising academic and living expenses.

Fresh data according to NELFUND shows that by October 2025, the platform had recorded 451,535 successfully approved interest-free loan applications, underscoring the scale of demand for government-backed support. The surge reflects how thousands of Nigerian students are turning to the programme to cover tuition fees, accommodation, and daily upkeep.

The spike in applications coincides with a period of record-high living costs, fee adjustments across public universities, and widespread financial strain on households. For many students, the loan scheme has quickly become a lifeline—often determining whether they can remain in school.

Launched on May 24, 2024, the programme has already disbursed over ₦116 billion, a milestone that highlights both the speed of its adoption and the depth of need within the country’s higher-education sector.

These figures also offer a clearer picture of how dependent students have become on federal support as they navigate an increasingly expensive academic environment.

Below is a breakdown of the top 10 institutions with the highest number of applications between May 2024 and October 2025.

10. University of Uyo: 31,826 applications 

9. Taraba State University, Jalingo (Taraba): 32,030 applications 

8. Federal University of Kashere: 34,208 applications 

7. Usmanu Danfodiyo University: 35,714 Applications 

6. University of Jos: 35,913 applications

5. University of Ilorin: 44,735 applications 

4. Ahmadu Bello University: 46,663 applications

3. Federal University, Dutsin‑Ma: 50,737 applications

2. Bayero University, Kano (Kano): 54,419 applications 

1. University of Maiduguri (Borno): 85,050 applications 

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