The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has announced the official opening of its student loan application portal for the 2025/2026 academic session, allowing students in accredited tertiary institutions to apply for financial support between October 23, 2025, and January 31, 2026.
The Federal Government agency disclosed this in a statement on Monday signed by its Director of Strategic Communications, Oseyemi Oluwatuyi, who reaffirmed NELFUND’s commitment to ensuring that no eligible Nigerian student is denied access to education due to financial challenges.
NELFUND commended the cooperation of universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education across the country and called for continued collaboration to make the loan process seamless and inclusive.
According to the statement, all tertiary institutions are expected to update and upload verified records of both returning and newly admitted students on the NELFUND Student Verification Portal before the deadline.
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“This step is essential for students to successfully apply and benefit from the scheme,” Oluwatuyi said.
The agency explained that accurate data from schools is a prerequisite for processing and disbursing loans efficiently, warning that students whose records are not uploaded or verified may experience delays in accessing the funds.
Eligibility and Application Guidelines
The Fund clarified that both returning and newly admitted students of accredited tertiary institutions are eligible to apply once the portal opens.
Naija News understands that fresh students can apply using either their Admission Number or JAMB Registration Number in place of a Matriculation Number.
NELFUND encouraged institutions to show understanding and flexibility in enforcing registration and fee payment deadlines for students awaiting loan approval and disbursement.
“Institutions are advised to consider temporary registration measures for students whose loan applications are still being processed, to ensure no student loses access to education due to financial constraints,” the Fund added.
The Fund also advised students who have not yet commenced their academic session to formally notify NELFUND with their institution’s approved academic calendar.
This, it said, would allow the agency to adjust scheduling and processing timelines in line with each institution’s resumption pattern.
The statement assured applicants that the Fund remains committed to a transparent, technology-driven process, noting that the application portal has been improved to handle large-scale traffic and ensure smoother verification.
For technical support and enquiries, institutions and applicants can contact NELFUND through email at [email protected], or reach out via its verified social media platforms:
- 𝕏 (formerly Twitter): @nelfund
- Instagram: @nelfund
- Facebook & LinkedIn: Nigerian Education Loan Fund – NELFUND
Applicants are also encouraged to visit the official website, www.nelf.gov.ng, for detailed guidelines and updates.
Naija News reports that the student loan scheme, launched under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, aims to make tertiary education accessible to all qualified Nigerians, especially those from low-income backgrounds.
NELFUND, established to manage the programme, has been working with tertiary institutions, regulatory bodies, and financial partners to ensure a fair and transparent loan disbursement process.
The Fund had previously introduced a pilot phase earlier in 2025, during which thousands of students across public institutions benefited. The new session’s rollout marks the second major implementation phase of the national student loan policy.
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