NELFUND extends deadline for student loan applications
By SUMAYYAH ADEFAKA
The Nigerian Education Loan Fund has extended the application deadline for the 2025/2026 academic session to February 27, 2026.
The fund announced the extension in a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday, saying the earlier deadline of January 31, 2026, was shifted to give prospective applicants additional time to complete and submit their applications.
According to the Director of Strategic Communications, Oseyemi Oluwatuyi, the decision was taken to ensure that no eligible student is excluded from the process due to timing constraints.
“The Nigerian Education Loan Fund has announced an extension of the application deadline for the 2025/2026 academic session from January 31, 2026, to February 27, 2026,” the statement read.
Commenting on the extension, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NELFUND, Akintunde Sawyerr, said the move underscored the Fund’s commitment to inclusivity and access.
“This extension reflects our commitment to inclusivity and access. We understand that some applicants may require additional time to complete their submissions, and this decision ensures that every eligible Nigerian student has a fair opportunity to benefit from the Fund,” he said.
NELFUND urged students who are yet to apply or who have not completed their applications to take advantage of the extended deadline and ensure that all required information is submitted on or before February 27, 2026.
The fund added that further information and updates would be communicated through its official channels.
NELFUND was established to administer the Nigeria Student Loan Scheme, which was signed into law by President Bola Tinubu in April 2024.
Under the scheme, the Federal Government provides interest-free loans to students in public tertiary institutions to cover tuition fees and living expenses.
Applications for the programme opened in May 2024 to ease financial barriers to education, particularly for students from low-income backgrounds.
As of January 29, 2026, a total of N174,561,719,810 had been disbursed under the student loan scheme.
