NELFUND
Olamilekan Abayomi
The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has extended the student loan application portal for some institutions that requested additional time for the 2025/2026 academic session. This extension applies to institutions that submitted formal requests, allowing eligible students extra time to complete their applications.
According to NELFUND’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Akintunde Sawyerr, the extension is aimed at ensuring that eligible students across participating institutions have the opportunity to access the student loan programme. The Fund had previously extended the portal following a surge in nationwide interest.
The extension is a result of NELFUND’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and providing sustainable financing solutions to remove financial barriers to higher education in Nigeria. Students in affected institutions are encouraged to take advantage of the extension and submit their applications through the official NELFUND portal.
NELFUND had initially opened the application portal on October 23, 2025, with an original deadline of January 31, 2026. The extension is expected to accommodate students who require more time to complete their applications, prospective applicants who recently learned about the scheme, and institutions that have just begun the 2025/2026 academic session.
The student loan programme provides interest-free loans to students in public tertiary institutions to cover tuition and living expenses. Beneficiaries are required to repay the loans after completing their education and securing employment, aiming to increase access to higher education for students from low-income backgrounds.
Since its inception, NELFUND has disbursed over N206 billion in loans to support students in tertiary institutions across the country, with over 1.1 million beneficiaries. The Fund remains committed to ensuring equitable access to higher education financing.
Institutions that have not yet commenced the 2025/2026 academic session are advised to submit a formal request for an extension along with their approved academic calendar for review. NELFUND encourages all eligible students to take advantage of the extension and complete their applications.
