Over 1 million Nigerian students applied for loans; 52% for Institutional loans, 48% for Upkeep loans

Key takeaways

  • Institutional loans lead slightly, with 552,009 applications, showing a strong need for tuition and direct school-related expenses.
  • Upkeep loans are not far behind, at 519,964 applications, highlighting the importance of financial support beyond school fees.
  • Combined, over 1 million applications reveal a large and growing demand for structured educational funding in Nigeria.
  • The close margin suggests dual pressure: students aren’t just struggling to pay fees, but also to survive the cost of schooling.

Student loan applications in Nigeria have surpassed the one-million mark, revealing just how essential financial aid has become in pursuit of higher education. Among the two main categories, Upkeep and Institutional loans, the latter holds a narrow lead, suggesting that tuition costs remain a central concern for most applicants.

However, with over half a million students applying for Upkeep loans alone, it’s clear that the cost of living while schooling is nearly as burdensome as the fees themselves. From accommodation to feeding and transportation, many students face tough financial conditions that go beyond the classroom.

The slim difference between both loan types reflects a deeper truth: funding education today isn’t just about paying school fees; it’s also about staying afloat while getting the education.

Source:

NELFUND

Period:

May 2025
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Student loan applications peaked in August 2024 with over 91,000 submissions, the highest in a single month
  • Student loan applications peaked sharply in August 2024 with 91K submissions, marking the highest monthly volume within the 13-month period.
  • After August’s spike, applications declined steeply, hitting a low of 18K in December 2024.
  • A resurgence began in January 2025, leading to a second wave of activity that reached 59K applications in April 2025, the second-highest month.
  • Monthly application volumes remained volatile, reflecting fluctuating demand and possible cycles tied to academic calendars or policy updates.
University students dominate NELFUND applications, making up 90% as of May 2025
  • University students filed 497,000 loan applications, accounting for a staggering 90.1% of all institutional submissions.
  • College of education students submitted just 34,000 applications, making up only 6.2% of the total pool.
  • Polytechnics trailed with 21,000 applications, contributing 3.7% to the national tally.
  • Out of every 10 students applying for a loan, 9 are university students, underscoring their dominance in demand.
Northern Nigeria leads student loan demand with over 170,000 applications from its top 10 institutions
  • University of Maiduguri leads with 31,770 applications, indicating a significant demand for student loans in the North East.
  • North West institutions dominate the list, with five universities (Bayero University Kano, Federal University Dutsinma Katsina, Ahmadu Bello University, Usman Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, and Umaru Musa Yar'adua University) collectively accounting for a substantial portion of applications.
  • North Central is represented by University of Jos and University of Ilorin, highlighting the region's active participation in the student loan programme.
  • Federal University, Kashere's presence underscores the North East's engagement, with two institutions in the top 10.
  • All listed universities received over 11,000 applications, reflecting widespread awareness and utilization of the student loan initiative across these regions.
Male students account for 68% of the 552,009 Nigerian education loan applicants as of May 2025
  • Male applicants dominate the Nigerian student loan landscape with 374,946 accounts, representing 68% of total applications.
  • Female applicants trail behind at 177,063, contributing just 32% to the total loan accounts.
  • For every 10 students who applied, approximately 7 are male and 3 are female.
  • The gender gap in student loan uptake is 197,883, with males nearly double the number of female applicants.
More than half of the Nigerian student loan applications came from the North, with the North West leading at 167,000
  • With 167,639 applications, the North West zone accounts for the highest number of student loan submissions, representing a significant concentration of demand in that region.
  • The North East follows with 134,359 applications, bringing the northern region's combined total to over 300,000, more than half of all zonal submissions.
  • The South West stands as the highest-contributing southern zone with 104,079 applications, showing a strong but comparatively lower demand than the North.
  • The South East recorded just 29,097 applications, the lowest across all six geopolitical zones.
Naira launched with 5 notes in 1973, evolving through various shifts to 3 high-security designs by 2022
  • Nigeria’s currency has undergone 10 key shifts; from note introductions to redesigns and a digital launch.
  • Between 1999 and 2005, four new notes; ₦100 to ₦1,000, were introduced in response to inflation.
  • The ₦200, ₦500 & ₦1,000 notes, which dominate in circulation by value, were revamped with high-security features.
  • In 2021, Nigeria launched the eNaira, making it the first African country with a Central Bank Digital Currency.
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