NELFUND Extends Student Loan Portal Deadline for Eligible Institutions

ABUJA, Nigeria – The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has extended the deadline for its Student Loan Application Portal for institutions that requested additional time, giving eligible students a renewed opportunity to complete applications for the 2025/2026 academic session.

The decision, announced Thursday in Abuja, applies strictly to tertiary institutions that formally approached NELFUND seeking more time to enable their students finalise submissions on the loan portal.

The extension is expected to help thousands of students who risked missing the deadline due to administrative delays or incomplete documentation.

Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NELFUND, Akintunde Sawyerr, says the fund remains committed to expanding access to higher education financing for Nigerian students.

“NELFUND remains committed to ensuring that eligible students across participating institutions have the opportunity to access the student loan programme,” Sawyerr says.

He urges students in the affected institutions to take advantage of the extended deadline and complete their applications through the official NELFUND portal.

The student loan scheme is a flagship initiative of the Federal Government designed to remove financial barriers to tertiary education and improve access to universities, polytechnics and other higher institutions across Nigeria.

NELFUND says the programme is built on the principles of transparency, accountability and sustainable student financing, aimed at supporting students who struggle to pay tuition and other academic costs.

Officials note that the portal extension reflects the fund’s commitment to ensuring that no eligible student is excluded from the programme due to technical or institutional delays.

Students seeking further information are encouraged to contact NELFUND through its official communication channels or visit the fund’s website for updates.

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Edino Chubiyo Cornelius

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Edino Chubiyo Cornelius is a graduate of History and International Studies and is currently an intern with Africa Health Report (AHR). He is developing core editorial and field reporting skills in health and development journalism, with a strong interest in research-driven storytelling that highlights public welfare issues across communities in Nigeria and the wider African region. X (Twitter): Edino Cornelius

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