The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has announced another extension of its Student Loan Application Portal for the 2025/2026 academic session, providing additional time for institutions that formally requested a deadline adjustment.
In a statement released on Thursday and signed by the Fund’s Director of Strategic Communications, Oseyemi Oluwatuyi, the extension specifically applies to institutions that submitted official requests for more time.
The move is aimed at ensuring that eligible students in those institutions are able to complete and submit their loan applications without unnecessary constraints.
According to the statement, the decision underscores NELFUND’s commitment to expanding access to higher education by removing financial barriers that may prevent students from pursuing their academic goals.
Speaking on the development, NELFUND Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Akintunde Sawyerr, reaffirmed the organisation’s dedication to ensuring that qualified students across participating institutions benefit from the programme.
“NELFUND remains committed to ensuring that eligible students across participating institutions have the opportunity to access the student loan programme,” Sawyerr stated.
Students in affected institutions are therefore encouraged to take full advantage of the extension by completing their applications through the official student loan portal before the revised deadline.
The Fund also reiterated its pledge to uphold transparency and accountability while delivering sustainable financing solutions that support educational advancement across the country.
NELFUND was established to administer Nigeria’s Student Loan Scheme, following its enactment into law by President Bola Tinubu in April 2024.
The initiative offers interest-free loans to students in public tertiary institutions to cover tuition fees and certain living expenses.
Under the scheme, beneficiaries are expected to repay the loans only after completing their studies and securing employment, a model designed to broaden access to higher education for students from low-income backgrounds while promoting long-term sustainability of the programme.
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