NELFUND
Iyunade Grace
The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has extended the application deadline for the 2025/2026 academic session to February 27, 2026. This decision was made to ensure that no eligible student is excluded from the process due to timing constraints.
The extension was announced by the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NELFUND, Akintunde Sawyerr, who emphasized the fund’s commitment to inclusivity and access to education financing. Sawyerr stated that the extension reflects NELFUND’s dedication to providing every eligible Nigerian student with a fair opportunity to benefit from the fund .
The student loan scheme, established by President Bola Tinubu in April 2024, offers interest-free loans to students in public tertiary institutions to cover tuition fees and living expenses. Applications for the scheme opened in May 2024, aiming to ease financial barriers to education, particularly for students from low-income backgrounds .
As of January 29, 2026, a total of ₦174,561,719,810 had been disbursed under the student loan scheme. NELFUND encourages students who have not yet applied or completed their applications to take advantage of the extended deadline.
The fund has urged institutions to update their students’ records on the Student Verification System (SVS) to enable loan applications. Additionally, NELFUND has appealed to institutions to show flexibility with registration and tuition payment deadlines for students awaiting loan disbursements.
Students are advised to ensure all required information is submitted on or before the new deadline, February 27, 2026. Further updates and relevant information will be communicated through NELFUND’s official channels.
NELFUND’s student loan initiative aims to revolutionize education accessibility across Nigeria, providing interest-free loans to students and promoting equitable access to higher education.
