Female students are not taking advantage of educational loan opportunities at the same rate as their male counterparts, according to Mr. Sawyerr, a key official of the National Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).
Sawyerr revealed that the ratio of female applicants to male applicants stands at 1:4, a figure he described as unimpressive.
“The NELFUND initiative is all about providing loans for students in tertiary institutions, to pay for their fees and to take care of their welfare,” he said. “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.”
Skill Acquisition Programme to Empower Students
Beyond providing financial support for education, Sawyerr highlighted a skill acquisition component under the NELFUND initiative aimed at empowering students through entrepreneurship training.
“There is also another part of the initiative which is the skill acquisition, and it is underway. It would also cover educational fees and fund purchases of equipment for entrepreneurship training,” he explained.
Sawyerr emphasized that the skill acquisition programme includes a monthly stipend for participants, which he described as a laudable feature. Despite its benefits, he noted that female participation remains low.
The programme is designed to provide students with practical skills while offering financial support, enhancing their ability to become self-sufficient after graduation.
Efforts to Boost Female Participation
In response to the gender disparity, Sawyerr mentioned that NELFUND is collaborating with women stakeholders to raise awareness about the loan initiative and its benefits.
“Timely repayment would allow for the expansion of the initiative, enabling more students across all government-owned institutions to benefit,” he added.
He further clarified that while the education loan is accessible to students at various levels in universities and polytechnics within federal and state-owned institutions, the skill acquisition loan extends beyond tertiary students.
Government’s Commitment to Gender Equity
The Minister of State for Education, Dr. Suwaiba Ahmed, lauded the Federal Government’s commitment to gender equity and urged female students to seize available educational opportunities. Represented by Dr. Mufida Hussain, she called for bold action to break gender-related barriers and emphasized the government’s investment in gender-balanced initiatives to ensure that financial constraints do not hinder girls’ education.
Ms. Choice Enebeli, the National President of Female Students of Nigeria, commended NELFUND’s advocacy efforts for increasing female applications.
“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 said.
Enebeli pledged to spearhead a nationwide awareness campaign to encourage more female students to apply for educational loans.
Similarly, Mrs. Chioma Nweze, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement, encouraged female students to be proactive in seeking opportunities. She emphasized the importance of taking initiative and leveraging available resources.
As efforts continue to address the gender gap, NELFUND remains focused on expanding access to educational loans and skill acquisition programmes to empower all students, irrespective of gender.