The Nigerian Education Loan Fund, NELFUND, has officially launched its student loan application portal for the 2025/2026 academic session, marking another major step in its commitment to ensuring access to higher education for students across the country.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the Director of Strategic Communications at NELFUND, Oseyemi Oluwatuyi, confirmed that the application period will begin on October 23, 2025, and close on January 31, 2026.
The initiative, according to him, is designed to provide timely financial assistance to eligible students enrolled in accredited tertiary institutions nationwide.
NELFUND stated that new students can apply using their admission number or JAMB registration number even before obtaining a matriculation number.
This flexibility, the agency explained, aims to eliminate barriers for fresh intakes who are yet to complete school registration processes.
The Fund also urged tertiary institutions to exercise understanding by extending tuition payment deadlines and registration windows for students awaiting loan approval or disbursement.
It noted that such institutional cooperation is vital to ensuring that no student is excluded from learning due to financial delays.
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Additionally, NELFUND encouraged schools yet to commence their 2025/2026 academic sessions to submit their approved academic calendars promptly.
This, the agency said, would allow the Fund to properly plan and coordinate loan disbursements in line with each institution’s schedule.
Oluwatuyi emphasized that the scheme represents the government’s commitment to bridging the financial gap in education and supporting youth empowerment through equitable access to tertiary learning opportunities.
He further appealed to university administrators, polytechnic rectors, and college provosts to adopt temporary registration systems for students whose loan applications are being processed, to prevent disruptions in their academic progress.
Since its creation, NELFUND has been at the forefront of Nigeria’s efforts to improve educational financing and reduce student dropout rates linked to economic hardship.
Earlier in the year, the Fund also commenced the distribution of monthly stipends to selected students as part of its phased support program.
DailyNews24
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