NELFUND to Open 2025/2026 Student Loan Portal in October

By AbdulRahman TiwaTope

The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has announced that its application portal for the 2025/2026 academic session will open in the second week of October 2025, giving students fresh opportunities to benefit from the government’s interest-free loan scheme.

According to the Fund, the portal will remain open until January 2026, providing a three-month window for eligible applicants to submit entries. Institutions have also been urged to promptly update student records on the Student Verification System (SVS) to ensure smooth processing.

The announcement comes after the closure of the 2024/2025 application cycle on September 30, 2025. NELFUND clarified that all unverified applications from the outgoing session will be automatically cancelled after October 8, 2025, with affected students required to reapply under the new cycle.

Warning to Institutions

Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of NELFUND, Mr. Akintunde Sawyerr, said the timelines were designed to provide clarity and guarantee fairness.

“Announcing the closure of the current application portal is a necessary step to prepare for the next cycle. NELFUND remains committed to removing financial barriers for students and to working with institutions to ensure that no eligible student is left behind,” Sawyerr stated.

He added that upkeep payments for beneficiaries of the 2024/2025 session would continue until November 2025, but emphasised that all students must reapply for the new cycle to remain eligible.

NELFUND also warned that schools which fail to complete mandatory verification of student lists by the deadline would be publicly named for non-compliance.

Advisory to Students

The Fund advised applicants to:
• Maintain close contact with their school management.
• Submit applications early to avoid last-minute delays.
• Ensure all records are accurate to prevent disqualification.

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