The Nigerian Education Loan Fund has approved an extension of its Student Loan Application Portal following a surge in applications and increased nationwide awareness.
The extension comes days after a reminder that the portal was scheduled to close on February 27, 2026. In a statement signed by the Director of Strategic Communications, Oseyemi Oluwatuyi, on Monday, the Fund said the decision was driven by strong feedback from students and stakeholders.
According to the statement, the additional days will allow eligible students sufficient time to complete their applications pending further management decisions and communication.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian Education Loan Fund, Akintunde Sawyerr, said the extension followed a significant increase in awareness generated by sensitisation campaigns across the six geopolitical zones.
He explained that the move is aimed at ensuring that all qualified students have a fair and equal opportunity to benefit from the scheme. The extension particularly targets students who require extra time, prospective applicants recently informed about the initiative, institutions that have just commenced the 2025 2026 academic session, and schools yet to submit verified student lists.
NELFUND advised institutions that have not started the current academic session to forward an official extension request along with their approved academic calendar. Students were encouraged to complete their applications through the official portal before final closure.
The Fund reaffirmed its commitment to transparency accountability and sustainable student financing solutions designed to eliminate financial barriers to tertiary education.
As of the previous closure date, NELFUND had received 1.69 million applications and disbursed N183.8 billion.
The scheme was established to administer the Nigeria Student Loan Scheme enacted into law by President Bola Tinubu in April 2024. The initiative provides interest free loans to students in public tertiary institutions to cover tuition and living expenses, with repayment expected after graduation and employment.
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