The Nigerian Education Loan Fund, NELFUND, has raised the alarm over the circulation of a fraudulent website posing as the official portal for student loan applications.
The agency issued a stern warning to students, parents, and the general public to avoid falling victim to online scammers using the name of President Bola Tinubu to lend false credibility to their deception.
In a statement released on Monday by Mrs. Oseyemi Oluwatuyi, NELFUND’s Director of Strategic Communications, the agency clarified that a fake message is currently being circulated online, falsely claiming that President Tinubu has ordered the reopening of the student loan application portal.
The fraudulent link being shared, https://nelfund-student-loan-2025.po-rt-al.com/NELFUND/, is not associated with the government or the education loan fund in any way. “We wish to categorically state that this website is FAKE, and the information contained in the message is false and misleading,” Oluwatuyi emphasized.
She reiterated that the only official website for student loan applications is https://nelf.gov.ng, and any application for financial aid should be carried out strictly through that platform.
Oluwatuyi also urged students and their guardians to avoid engaging with unverified links or entering personal or financial information on any suspicious websites. “These websites are designed to steal sensitive data and exploit unsuspecting applicants,” she warned.
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To enhance public awareness and safety, she encouraged the public to report any questionable websites, messages, or links that claim to represent NELFUND. Reports can be sent directly to the Fund via email at info@nelf.gov.ng.
Additionally, she directed stakeholders to the Fund’s verified social media platforms for accurate and up-to-date information. These include:
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X (formerly Twitter): @nelfund
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Instagram: @nelfund
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Facebook & LinkedIn: Nigerian Education Loan Fund – NELFUND
Mrs. Oluwatuyi reaffirmed NELFUND’s commitment to transparency, security, and fairness in administering student loans, stating that the agency would continue to disseminate official updates only through trusted and verified communication channels.
This incident adds to the growing number of cyber fraud cases targeting young Nigerians, particularly students navigating government schemes and programs online. Experts have repeatedly cautioned users to double-check URLs and look out for signs of spoofing, such as unusual domain names and unsecured connections.
NELFUND concluded its message with a call to all students to remain vigilant and consult the agency’s verified platforms for any loan-related inquiries.
NAN
