October 21, (THEWILL) — The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has announced the opening of its online application portal for the 2025/2026 academic session, giving both new and returning students access to apply for financial assistance under the federal government’s student loan scheme.
A statement signed on Thursday, on behalf of the Managing Director, Akintunde Sawyerr, by Mrs Oseyemi Oluwatuyi, the Fund’s Director of Strategic Communications, said the portal will open on Thursday, October 23, 2025, and close on Saturday, January 31, 2026.
NELFUND urged all accredited tertiary institutions across the country to update and upload verified student records—covering both newly admitted and returning students—on the Student Verification Portal.
The Fund noted that the exercise is necessary to enable applicants complete their registration and ensure only eligible students benefit from the scheme.
For first-year students who are yet to be issued matriculation numbers, NELFUND clarified that they may use their admission or JAMB numbers during the verification process to avoid delays in accessing the loan. This, the agency explained, would make the application process more inclusive and student-friendly.
The Fund also called on institutions that have not commenced their 2025/2026 academic sessions to submit their academic calendars to NELFUND. This, according to the agency, will help in planning and aligning disbursement schedules with each school’s academic activities.
In addition, NELFUND advised tertiary institutions to allow temporary registration for students whose loan disbursements are still being processed. The Fund said such flexibility would prevent disruptions in students’ academic progress and uphold the government’s goal of ensuring that no Nigerian student is denied education due to financial constraints.
According to the statement, the opening of the portal marks a crucial step in NELFUND’s efforts to build a transparent, efficient, and equitable education financing system that supports students across all accredited tertiary institutions in Nigeria.
Sawyerr expressed appreciation to school managements for their cooperation and urged continuous collaboration to guarantee a smooth implementation of the student loan scheme.
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