University of Maiduguri Tops List of Student Loan Applicants in Nigeria
The University of Maiduguri has emerged as the leading institution with the highest number of student loan applicants, according to newly released data from StatiSense.
The data, which sheds light on the distribution of student loan applications under the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), reveals notable regional trends and institutional demand.
Top Institutions by Number of Applicants:
1. University of Maiduguri (North East) – 31,643 applicants
2. Bayero University, Kano (North West) – 22,891 applicants
3. Federal University, Dutsin-Ma (North West) – 21,493 applicants
4. Ahmadu Bello University (North West) – 18,111 applicants
5. Usmanu Danfodiyo University (North West) – 15,458 applicants
6. University of Jos (North Central) – 14,184 applicants
7. Federal University, Kashere (North East) – 12,083 applicants
8. Federal University, Dutse (North West) – 11,664 applicants
9. University of Ilorin (North Central) – 11,152 applicants
10. Umar Musa Yar’adua University (North West) – 11,043 applicants
11. University of Ibadan (South West) – 10,101 applicants
12. Bauchi State University (North East) – 10,031 applicants
Regional Breakdown:
• North East (NE): Dominated by the University of Maiduguri, Federal University Kashere, and Bauchi State University.
• North West (NW): Contributed the largest number of institutions, including ABU, Bayero, and Usmanu Danfodiyo universities.
• North Central (NC): Represented by the University of Jos and University of Ilorin.
• South West (SW): Only the University of Ibadan made the list, highlighting a relatively lower participation rate from the southern regions.
The data highlights a strong demand for student financial assistance in northern Nigerian universities, with nine out of the twelve institutions listed coming from the northern geopolitical zones.
This underscores regional disparities in access to educational funding and possibly a higher level of financial need or awareness in these regions.
The inclusion of the University of Ibadan as the only southern institution on the list points to varying levels of engagement with the NELFUND scheme across Nigeria’s regions.
With over 30,000 applications, the University of Maiduguri’s leading position is a significant indicator of the financial support required by students in the North East. As NELFUND continues to roll out, these figures may guide future policy on educational funding distribution and awareness campaigns.
