LATEST: Tinubu Government Opens Student Loan Applications For 2025/26 Academic Year

The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has officially announced the opening of its student loan application portal for the 2025/2026 academic session, giving students in accredited tertiary institutions the opportunity to apply for financial assistance from October 23, 2025, to January 31, 2026.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The announcement was made in a statement released on Monday by NELFUND’s Director of Strategic Communications, Oseyemi Oluwatuyi, who reaffirmed the agency’s unwavering commitment to ensuring that no qualified Nigerian student is deprived of education due to financial hardship.

Oluwatuyi commended the cooperation of universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education nationwide, urging continued collaboration to ensure a seamless and inclusive application process.

According to the statement, all tertiary institutions must update and upload verified data of both returning and newly admitted students on the NELFUND Student Verification Portal before the deadline.

“This step is crucial for students to successfully apply and benefit from the scheme,” Oluwatuyi stated.

The agency emphasized that accurate institutional data is vital for efficient loan processing and disbursement, warning that students whose records are not uploaded or verified may face delays in accessing their funds.

Eligibility and Application Guidelines

NELFUND clarified that both new and returning students in accredited institutions are eligible to apply once the portal opens.

For newly admitted students, applications can be completed using either an Admission Number or a JAMB Registration Number in place of a Matriculation Number.

The Fund also appealed to institutions to exercise flexibility in registration and tuition deadlines for students awaiting loan approval and disbursement.

“Institutions are encouraged to adopt temporary registration measures for applicants whose loans are still being processed to ensure no student loses access to education due to financial constraints,” the statement added.

Additionally, students who have not yet commenced their academic session are advised to notify NELFUND with their school’s approved academic calendar to enable the agency to align processing timelines with institutional resumption schedules.

The Fund assured applicants of a transparent, technology-driven process, noting that the portal has been upgraded to handle heavy traffic and facilitate smoother verification.

For technical assistance or inquiries, applicants and institutions can contact NELFUND through:
Email: data@nelf.gov.ng
(formerly Twitter): @nelfund
Instagram: @nelfund
Facebook & LinkedIn: Nigerian Education Loan Fund – NELFUND
Website: www.nelf.gov.ng

Launched under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, the student loan scheme is part of a national drive to make tertiary education affordable and accessible to all qualified Nigerians, particularly those from low-income backgrounds.

Since its establishment, NELFUND has collaborated with educational institutions, regulatory agencies, and financial partners to ensure a fair, transparent, and accountable loan disbursement process.

The Fund previously conducted a pilot phase in early 2025, during which thousands of students across public institutions benefited. The 2025/2026 rollout marks the second major implementation phase of the federal government’s student loan programme.

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