The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has announced the official opening of its student loan application portal for the 2025/2026 academic session, reaffirming the Federal Government’s commitment to ensuring financial access to higher education for all eligible students.
According to a statement released on Tuesday by the Director of Strategic Communications, Mrs. Oseyemi Oluwatuyi, the portal will be accessible from Thursday, October 23, 2025, and will close on Saturday, January 31, 2026.
NELFUND called on all tertiary institutions across the country to update and upload verified data of both returning and newly admitted students on the Student Verification Portal. The exercise, it said, is a critical prerequisite for students to apply and benefit from the loan scheme.
The agency further explained that both returning and newly admitted students in accredited tertiary institutions are eligible to apply.
Newly admitted students may apply using their Admission Number or JAMB Registration Number, while returning students should use their Matriculation Number.
To facilitate a smooth process, NELFUND urged institutions to show flexibility in enforcing registration and tuition payment deadlines for students awaiting loan disbursement.
It also encouraged schools that have not yet commenced their academic session to communicate their approved calendars to NELFUND to allow for scheduling adjustments.
In addition, NELFUND appealed to tertiary institutions to adopt temporary registration measures for students whose loan applications are still being processed, stressing that no student should be denied education due to financial hardship.
The agency also advised institutions facing any technical challenges during the process to reach out for immediate support and assistance to ensure a seamless rollout of the loan scheme.
