- NELFUND granted an extension of the Student Loan Application Portal for institutions that formally requested more time
- Akintunde Sawyerr urged eligible students to take advantage of the extension and submit their applications promptly
- Since inception, NELFUND has disbursed over ₦206 billion, benefiting more than 1.16 million students nationwide
The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has granted another extension for its Student Loan Application Portal to accommodate institutions that requested additional time for the 2025/2026 academic session.
The announcement was made on Thursday in a statement signed by NELFUND’s Director of Strategic Communications, Oseyemi Oluwatuyi.
According to the statement, the extension applies only to institutions that submitted formal requests, allowing eligible students extra time to complete their applications.
“The Nigerian Education Loan Fund has approved an extension of its Student Loan Application Portal for institutions that have formally requested additional time for the 2025/2026 academic session,” the statement read.
Speaking on the development, NELFUND Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Akintunde Sawyerr, reiterated the Fund’s commitment to ensuring that students at participating institutions can access the programme.
“NELFUND remains committed to ensuring that eligible students across participating institutions have the opportunity to access the student loan programme,” he said, urging students in affected institutions to take advantage of the extension and submit their applications through the official portal.
The Fund emphasised its dedication to transparency, accountability, and providing sustainable financing solutions to remove financial barriers to higher education in Nigeria. The portal had previously been extended earlier this month following a surge in nationwide interest, with the original closing date set for 27 February 2026.
Since the inception of the Nigeria Student Loan Scheme, NELFUND has disbursed over N206 billion in loans, benefiting a total of 1,164,222 students across public tertiary institutions nationwide. The scheme, enacted into law by President Bola Tinubu in April 2024, provides interest-free loans to students to cover tuition and living expenses.
Beneficiaries are required to repay the loans after completing their education and securing employment, a mechanism designed to increase access to higher education for students from low-income backgrounds.
The initiative forms part of NELFUND’s broader strategy to support inclusive education in Nigeria, ensuring that financial constraints do not prevent academically qualified students from pursuing tertiary education.
Students are encouraged to complete their applications promptly to avoid missing the extended deadline, as the Fund continues to process applications and prepare for disbursement to ensure timely support for the upcoming academic year.