The Nigerian Education Loan Fund has approved another extension for its student loan application portal to give some tertiary institutions additional time to complete the process for the 2025/2026 academic session.
The development was disclosed on Thursday in a statement issued by the Fund’s Director of Strategic Communications, Oseyemi Oluwatuyi.
According to the statement, the extension is specifically for institutions that officially requested more time to allow their students finalise their loan applications.
The Fund explained that the decision was taken to ensure that qualified students in the affected schools are not excluded from the loan programme.
Commenting on the move, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NELFUND, Akintunde Sawyerr, reaffirmed the agency’s determination to support students seeking financial assistance for their studies.
He said the organisation remains focused on ensuring that all eligible students in participating institutions can benefit from the loan initiative.
NELFUND therefore encouraged students in the concerned institutions to take advantage of the extra time and complete their applications through the official portal.
The agency also restated its commitment to transparency and accountability while providing sustainable financial support aimed at reducing barriers to tertiary education in Nigeria.
Earlier in the month, the Fund had already extended the application portal due to the growing number of applicants across the country, after it was initially scheduled to close on February 27, 2026.
Statistics released by NELFUND show that more than N206 billion has been disbursed to students since the scheme began.
The Fund disclosed that about 1,164,222 students in tertiary institutions nationwide have benefited from loans amounting to N206.29 billion.
NELFUND was created to manage the Nigeria Student Loan Scheme, which became law in April 2024 after it was signed by President Bola Tinubu.
Under the programme, students in public tertiary institutions can obtain interest-free loans to cover tuition fees and living expenses during their studies.
Beneficiaries are expected to begin repayment after completing their education and securing employment, a system designed to widen access to higher education for students from less privileged backgrounds.
