The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has expressed concerns about the low ratio of female students in tertiary institutions accessing education loans compared to their male counterparts.
This was revealed by the Fund’s Managing Director, Akintunde Sawyerr, during the International Women’s Day celebration in Abuja on Monday. Sawyerr was represented by Oluwatosin Sanusi, NELFUND’s Head of Investments and Funds Management.
According to Sawyerr, only one in five applications for the education loan fund is from females, a figure he described as disappointing. He added that NELFUND is actively collaborating with women stakeholders to raise awareness about the initiative and encourage more female students to apply, enabling them to benefit from the opportunities available.
Sawyerr also emphasized the importance of timely loan repayment after graduation and employment to ensure the sustainability of the program. He explained that prompt repayment would allow the initiative to expand and provide more students across government-owned institutions the opportunity to benefit.
The education loan fund is available to students at various levels of study in universities and polytechnics within both federal and state-owned institutions. Additionally, the skill acquisition loan is not restricted to tertiary students alone.
The Minister of State for Education, Dr. Suwaiba Ahmed, praised the federal government’s initiative, urging students to take full advantage of the fund to prevent financial constraints from disrupting their studies. Mufida Hussain, the Special Assistant to the Minister on Education and Quality Assurance, represented her at the event.
Ahmed stressed that the girl-child must make the most of the opportunities presented to break barriers and achieve their dreams. She emphasized that achieving gender equity requires bold and immediate action. “We cannot afford to wait; we must act now to break barriers and create opportunities for women and girls,” she stated. The Minister also reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to gender equity, noting that significant investments have been made in gender-balanced initiatives.
The National President of the Female Students of Nigeria, Choice Enebeli commended NELFUND for encouraging female students to apply for and benefit from education loans. She emphasized that women’s rights are human rights, and advocated for equal access for women and girls to education, healthcare, economic opportunities, and leadership positions. Enebeli also pledged to lead an awareness campaign on educational loans across the country to benefit female students.
