…Only One in Five Applicants Are Female
The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has raised concerns over the low number of female applicants accessing its education loan scheme, describing the current participation ratio as “not impressive.”
Speaking in Abuja during the International Women’s Day celebration on Monday, NELFUND’s Managing Director, Akintunde Sawyerr—represented by the Head of Investments and Funds Management, Oluwatosin Sanusi—revealed that only one out of every five loan applications comes from a female student.
“The NELFUND initiative is designed to provide financial support to students in tertiary institutions, covering tuition fees and welfare needs. Additionally, we have a skills acquisition program that offers monthly stipends and funds for entrepreneurship training,” Sawyerr stated.
However, he noted that female students are significantly underrepresented in the scheme, with the current ratio standing at 4:1 in favor of male applicants.
In response, NELFUND is collaborating with women-focused stakeholders to increase awareness and encourage more female students to take advantage of the initiative. Sawyerr emphasized that timely loan repayment upon graduation and employment remains crucial for the program’s sustainability and expansion.
The Minister of State for Education, Dr. Suwaiba Ahmed, commended the federal government’s efforts in making education more accessible. Represented by her Special Assistant on Education and Quality Assurance, Dr. Mufida Hussain, she urged female students to seize the opportunity to ensure uninterrupted studies.
“Achieving gender equity requires bold and decisive action. We must act now to break barriers and create opportunities for women and girls,” Ahmed stressed.
Similarly, the National President of Female Students of Nigeria, Ms. Choice Enebeli, lauded NELFUND’s advocacy for female students. She vowed to spearhead an awareness campaign to encourage more women to apply for education loans.
“Women’s rights are human rights. We must continue to push for equal access to education, healthcare, economic opportunities, and leadership positions,” Enebeli said.
The education loan fund is accessible to students in universities and polytechnics across federal and state-owned institutions. The skills acquisition loan, however, extends beyond tertiary students, offering broader opportunities for entrepreneurship training.
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