The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has opened its student loan application portal for the 2025/2026 academic session, providing interest-free financial support to eligible students in tertiary institutions across Nigeria.

The portal will accept applications from Thursday, October 23, 2025, until Saturday, January 31, 2026. This initiative aims to remove financial barriers for indigent students pursuing higher education.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, NELFUND’s Director of Strategic Communications, Oseyemi Oluwatuyi, emphasized the importance of timely applications. “The extended window gives prospective beneficiaries ample time to complete their submissions,” she said.

Eligible students can apply using their JAMB registration numbers or admission numbers. The loans cover tuition fees and may include upkeep allowances for approved applicants.

Ahead of the portal’s launch, NELFUND urged all accredited tertiary institutions to update and upload records of both returning and newly admitted students on the Student Verification System (SVS). Only verified records will qualify students for the scheme.

“Institution that have not yet commenced their 2025/2026 academic session should formally write a special notice to NELFUND with their approved academic calendar for scheduling flexibility,” the statement added.

NELFUND also appealed to schools to show understanding with registration and fee payment deadlines for students awaiting loan disbursements. It recommended temporary registration measures to prevent any eligible student from being excluded due to financial delays.

This follows the closure of the 2024/2025 application portal on September 30, 2025. Unverified applications from that cycle were cancelled after October 8, 2025, requiring affected students to reapply for the new session.

For the 2024/2025 session, upkeep payments will continue until November 2025, but students must reapply to remain eligible beyond that.

NELFUND, established under the Student Loans (Access to Higher Education) Act signed by President Bola Tinubu in June 2023, has disbursed billions of naira to thousands of students since its inception. The scheme targets public universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.

In its first cycle, NELFUND approved loans for over 100,000 students, with disbursements starting in July 2024. The 2025/2026 cycle builds on this momentum, aiming to reach even more beneficiaries amid rising education costs.

Institutions failing to submit data previously faced scrutiny; 203 schools were listed for non-compliance in earlier reports. NELFUND continues to monitor participation to ensure nationwide coverage.

For inquiries, students and institutions can contact NELFUND via email at data@nelf.gov.ng, or through social media handles @nelfund on X and Instagram, or the official website www.nelf.gov.ng.

The agency reaffirmed its commitment to inclusive access to higher education, noting that effective collaboration with institutions is key to the scheme’s success.

Source: Read more at theheute.com.ng