NELFUND Extends 2025/2026 Student Loan Application Deadline Following Institutional Requests

The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has announced a further extension of its Student Loan Application Portal for the 2025/2026 academic session, accommodating institutions that formally requested additional time for their students to complete applications.

In a statement released on Thursday, NELFUND’s Director of Strategic Communications, Oseyemi Oluwatuyi, explained that the extension is limited to institutions that submitted formal requests, providing their eligible students with extra time to apply for the loan scheme.

“The Nigerian Education Loan Fund has approved an extension of its Student Loan Application Portal for institutions that have formally requested additional time for the 2025/2026 academic session,” the statement said.

NELFUND’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Akintunde Sawyerr, reiterated the Fund’s commitment to ensuring that all eligible students in participating institutions have access to the programme.

“NELFUND remains dedicated to enabling eligible students across participating institutions to benefit from the student loan initiative,” Sawyerr said, encouraging students in affected schools to take full advantage of the extension by submitting their applications through the official portal.

The Fund also highlighted its focus on transparency, accountability, and sustainable financing, aiming to remove financial barriers to higher education in Nigeria.

Established by law in April 2024 under the administration of President Bola Tinubu, NELFUND oversees the Nigeria Student Loan Scheme, which provides interest-free loans to students in public tertiary institutions. These loans are intended to cover tuition fees and living expenses, with repayment required only after graduation and securing employment. The initiative seeks to expand access to higher education for students from low-income backgrounds, helping bridge financial gaps that often limit academic opportunities.