The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has extended its Student Loan Application Portal to accommodate the growing nationwide interest generated by its ongoing awareness campaign.
The extension follows a reminder last week that the portal was scheduled to close on February 27, 2026. In response to feedback from students and stakeholders, NELFUND provided additional days to allow eligible applicants sufficient time to complete their submissions.
In a statement on Monday, signed by the Director of Strategic Communications, Oseyemi Oluwatuyi, NELFUND said:
“The Nigerian Education Loan Fund has approved an extension of its Student Loan Application Portal following a significant increase in awareness and nationwide demand generated by its ongoing sensitisation campaign.
“The Fund has approved some additional days to ensure all eligible students are given adequate opportunity to complete their applications, pending further management decisions and communications.”
The announcement targets students requiring extra time, prospective applicants informed through recent outreach, institutions that have just commenced their 2025/2026 academic session, and schools that have yet to submit verified student lists.
“Our sensitisation efforts across the six geopolitical zones have significantly increased awareness and participation. Therefore, in line with our mandate to expand access to tertiary education financing, we have approved an extension to ensure that all eligible students have a fair and equal opportunity to apply,” said NELFUND Managing Director and Chief Executive, Akintunde Sawyerr.
NELFUND advised institutions that have not yet started the 2025/2026 session to submit an official extension request with their approved academic calendar. Students are urged to complete their applications via the official portal before it closes permanently.
The Fund reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, accountability, and sustainable student financing solutions designed to remove financial barriers to higher education in Nigeria.
As of the portal’s previous closure date, NELFUND had received 1.69 million applications and disbursed N183.8 billion.
Established under the Nigeria Student Loan Scheme, enacted by President Bola Tinubu in April 2024, NELFUND provides interest-free loans to students in public tertiary institutions to cover tuition and living expenses. Applications opened in May 2024 to support students from low-income backgrounds. Beneficiaries repay the loans after graduation and securing employment.
