The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has announced the official opening of its student loan application portal for the 2025/2026 academic session, allowing eligible students to apply for government-backed educational loans beginning Thursday, October 23, 2025, through Saturday, January 31, 2026.
In a statement issued on October 21, 2025, by Mrs. Oseyemi Oluwatuyi, Director of Strategic Communications at NELFUND, the agency said the initiative is part of ongoing efforts to make higher education more accessible and inclusive for Nigerian students.
The statement, released under the Office of The Presidency, explained that the online portal will be open to returning and newly admitted students of accredited tertiary institutions across the country. Fresh applicants can register using either their Admission Number or JAMB Registration Number in place of a matriculation number.
NELFUND urged tertiary institutions nationwide to upload verified records of both returning and newly admitted students to the NELFUND Student Verification Portal, emphasizing that this step is crucial to enable students to successfully apply and benefit from the scheme.
“Institutional cooperation remains vital to ensuring a smooth and inclusive loan process for all eligible students,” the statement read. “Institutions are encouraged to show flexibility with registration and fee payment deadlines for students awaiting loan disbursement.”
The agency also advised schools that have not commenced their 2025/2026 academic session to formally write to NELFUND with their approved academic calendars for scheduling purposes.
To prevent disruptions in education, NELFUND appealed to institutions to consider temporary registration measures for students whose loan applications are still being processed, assuring that efforts are ongoing to prevent financially constrained students from losing access to higher education.
For inquiries or technical support, applicants and institutions were directed to contact NELFUND via its official email data@nelf.gov.ng, or through its verified social media handles on X (formerly Twitter) @nelfund, Instagram @nelfund, and LinkedIn: Nigerian Education Loan Fund – NELFUND.
The statement reaffirmed NELFUND’s commitment to “increasing access to higher education”, in line with the Federal Government’s broader agenda of expanding opportunities for youth empowerment and national development.
