In a bid to enhance gender equity in education, the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has urged female students to take advantage of the federal government’s zero-interest education loans.
The call was made during the NELFUND Women Forum Programme, held in Abuja to mark the 2025 International Women’s Day (IWD).
The Managing Director of NELFUND, Akintunde Sawyerr, represented by Oluwatosin Sanusi, NELFUND’s Head of Investments and Funds Management, expressed concern over the low participation of female students in the loan scheme.
According to him, “The NELFUND initiative is all about providing loans for students in tertiary institutions to pay for their fees and take care of their welfare. There is also another part of the initiative, which is the skill acquisition programme. It is underway, and it would also cover educational fees and fund purchases of equipment for entrepreneurship training.”
He highlighted the disparity in loan applications, stating, “Currently, we have a ratio of 4 to 1, which means for every four male applicants, we have just one female, which isn’t impressive.”
To address this, NELFUND is collaborating with women stakeholders to create awareness and encourage more female students to apply. However, Sawyerr stressed the importance of loan repayment after graduation to sustain the initiative and ensure continued funding for students in government-owned institutions.
The Minister of State for Education, Suwaiba Ahmed, represented by Mufida Hussain, emphasized the federal government’s dedication to gender-balanced policies. She urged female students to seize the opportunity and avoid interruptions in their education due to financial constraints.
“The girl-child must optimize all opportunities presented in order to break barriers and attain desired dreams and aspirations in life.
Achieving gender equity requires bold, swift, and decisive steps, and we cannot afford to wait. So, we must act now to break barriers and create opportunities for women and girls,” she stated.
The National President of Female Students of Nigeria, Choice Enebeli, commended NELFUND for advocating for female students, stating, “Women’s rights are human rights, and we must continue to strive for a world where women and girls have equal access to education, healthcare, economic opportunities, and leadership positions.” She pledged to lead a nationwide awareness campaign to educate female students on accessing the loan.
Similarly, Chioma Nweze, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement, urged women to take initiative in securing opportunities. “Women should not wait to be offered opportunities but should take initiative and claim them,” she advised.
With the federal government’s push for gender inclusivity in education, NELFUND is determined to bridge the gap and ensure more female students benefit from the zero-interest loan scheme, ultimately fostering equal access to education and skill development in Nigeria.
