The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has officially opened its student loan application portal for the 2025/2026 academic session, providing eligible students across the country with access to financial assistance for their education.
Managing Director of NELFUND, Mr. Akintunde Sawyerr, made the announcement in a statement issued by the Fund’s Director of Strategic Communications, Mrs. Oseyemi Oluwatuyi, in Abuja.
According to Sawyerr, the portal will remain open from October 23, 2025, to January 31, 2026, covering the full admission cycle for the academic year. He expressed appreciation to tertiary institutions for their cooperation and urged continued collaboration to ensure a transparent, inclusive, and efficient loan process for both new and returning students.
The NELFUND boss emphasized the importance of accurate and updated student data, calling on institutions to upload verified records of both fresh and returning students on the Student Verification Portal to enable seamless loan applications and timely access to funds.
“To support a smooth rollout, institutions should note key details: the portal opens October 23, 2025, and closes January 31, 2026. Timely updates will ensure students are not left out,” Sawyerr stated.
He further clarified that eligible students include both new entrants and returning students in accredited tertiary institutions. For first-year applicants, admission or JAMB numbers can be used in place of matriculation numbers for verification purposes.
Sawyerr appealed to tertiary institutions to show flexibility with registration and fee payment deadlines for students awaiting loan disbursement, stressing that no student should be denied access to education due to financial delays.
He also urged institutions that have not yet commenced their 2025/2026 session to submit their academic calendars to NELFUND to guide the scheduling of disbursement processes.
Additionally, the Managing Director called for temporary registration arrangements to accommodate students with pending loan applications, ensuring that no qualified applicant is excluded from educational opportunities because of financial constraints.
“For technical support or enquiries, institutions can contact NELFUND via email at [email protected],” he added.
