The Nigerian Education Loan Fund has officially launched its student loan application portal for the 2025/2026 academic year, offering eligible students across the country access to financial aid.
In a statement released on Tuesday, NELFUND’s Director of Strategic Communications, Oseyemi Oluwatuyi, confirmed that the application portal will remain open from Thursday, October 23, 2025, to Saturday, January 31, 2026.
“We are pleased to announce the opening of the student loan portal for the 2025/2026 academic session,” Oluwatuyi said. “This initiative is aimed at reducing the financial burden on students and ensuring that no one is denied access to education due to lack of funds.”
The agency encouraged newly admitted students to apply using their JAMB Registration Number or Admission Number in place of a matriculation number, especially if they are yet to be officially enrolled.
In a bid to ensure smooth processing and access to funds, NELFUND appealed to tertiary institutions to adopt flexible registration policies for students whose loan applications are still being processed.
“We urge all institutions to show understanding regarding registration and fee payment deadlines,” Oluwatuyi added. “Institutions are also advised to formally communicate their approved academic calendars to NELFUND if their academic sessions have not yet commenced, to allow for better scheduling.”
The agency emphasized the need for cooperation from institutions, asking them to adopt temporary registration measures for students awaiting loan disbursements.
“Our goal is to make education accessible. We are asking institutions to temporarily register students with pending loan approvals to prevent disruptions to their academic journey,” the statement read.
NELFUND’s initiative is part of a broader effort by the government to improve access to higher education through structured and transparent student loan schemes.
