The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has announced that its student loan application portal for the 2025/2026 academic session will officially open on Thursday, October 23, 2025.
The announcement was made by NELFUND’s Managing Director, Mr. Akintunde Sawyerr, through a statement issued by the Fund’s Director of Strategic Communications, Mrs. Oseyemi Oluwatuyi, on Tuesday in Abuja.
According to Sawyerr, the application window will remain open until Saturday, January 31, 2026, covering the full duration of the academic admission cycle.
He thanked tertiary institutions for their continued cooperation and encouraged further collaboration to ensure a smooth, inclusive, and transparent loan process for both new and returning students.
Institutions were reminded to update and upload verified student data—including both fresh intakes and returning students—on the Student Verification Portal. This step, Sawyerr emphasized, is crucial for enabling students to successfully access loans under the National Education Loan Programme.
> “To support a seamless rollout, institutions should note key details: the portal opens Oct. 23, 2025, and closes Jan. 31, 2026. Timely updates will ensure students are not left out,” he said.
Sawyerr clarified that eligible applicants include both newly admitted and returning students in accredited tertiary institutions. He also noted that first-year students can use their admission or JAMB numbers for verification in place of matriculation numbers.
In a call for flexibility, he urged institutions to adjust registration and fee deadlines for students awaiting loan disbursements, to prevent academic disruptions due to financial delays.
He further advised institutions that have not yet commenced the 2025/2026 academic year to submit their academic calendars to NELFUND. This will allow the Fund to appropriately schedule disbursements in alignment with institutional timelines.
Lastly, Sawyerr encouraged institutions to implement temporary registration measures for students with pending loan approvals, ensuring that no eligible student is denied access to education because of financial constraints.
For technical assistance or further enquiries, institutions can contact NELFUND at data@nelf.gov.ng.