The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has officially opened its online portal for student loan applications for the 2025/2026 academic year, providing qualified students across the nation with crucial financial support for their studies.
Mr. Akintunde Sawyerr, the Managing Director of NELFUND, made this announcement in a statement released by the Fund’s Director of Strategic Communications, Mrs. Oseyemi Oluwatuyi, in Abuja on Tuesday.
The application period will be from Thursday, October 23, 2025, to Saturday, January 31, 2026, coinciding with the entire admission cycle for the academic session.
Sawyerr expressed gratitude to tertiary institutions for their ongoing cooperation and emphasized the importance of maintaining a smooth, transparent, and inclusive process for both new and returning students.
He also urged institutions to diligently upload and update verified student data on the Student Verification Portal. This crucial step is necessary for applicants to qualify for loan benefits.
He stressed that accurate institutional records were vital to the success of the National Education Loan Programme.
“To support a seamless rollout, institutions should note key details: portal opens Oct. 23, 2025, and closes Jan. 31, 2026. Timely updates will ensure students are not left out,” Sawyerr said.
He added that both newly admitted students and those already enrolled in accredited tertiary institutions are eligible to apply.
For first-year students, Sawyerr explained that either admission numbers or JAMB registration numbers can be used for verification instead of matriculation numbers.
He also appealed to schools to show flexibility with registration and tuition payment deadlines for students awaiting loan disbursements to prevent disruptions to their studies due to financial constraints.
Additionally, Sawyerr urged institutions yet to commence the 2025/2026 session to forward their academic calendars to NELFUND for consideration in the disbursement schedule.
He advised that temporary registration arrangements be made for students with pending applications to ensure that no eligible candidate misses out on education opportunities because of financial delays.
“For technical support or enquiries, institutions can contact NELFUND via email at data@nelf.gov.ng,” he advised.
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