The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has extended the deadline for its Student Loan Application Portal following a surge in applications nationwide.
The extension was announced in a statement by Mrs. Oseyemi Oluwatuyi, the Fund’s Director of Strategic Communications, after the portal was initially scheduled to close on February 27, 2026.
According to NELFUND, the additional days will allow more eligible students to complete their applications, particularly those who became aware of the scheme during recent nationwide sensitisation campaigns, institutions newly commencing the 2025/2026 academic session, and schools yet to submit verified student lists.
Akintunde Sawyerr, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, said the decision aligns with the Fund’s commitment to inclusivity and equitable access to tertiary education financing. He noted that awareness efforts across the six geopolitical zones significantly boosted participation. The Fund, however, did not specify a new closing date.
Institutions that have not begun their 2025/2026 academic session are required to formally request an extension and submit their approved academic calendar for consideration.
Since the portal launched on May 24, 2024, NELFUND has received 1,704,174 applications, with 983,706 students benefiting from the scheme. As of February 1, 2026, a total of N183.89 billion had been disbursed — N107.09 billion for institutional fees and N76.80 billion for student upkeep allowances.
The Fund is also reconciling N927.98 million in unpaid allowances owed to 11,685 students due to technical issues.
