The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has extended the deadline for its student loan application portal following a surge in nationwide interest driven by its ongoing sensitisation campaign.
The extension comes days after the Fund had earlier indicated that the portal would close on February 27, 2026.
In a statement released on Monday by its Director of Strategic Communications, Oseyemi Oluwatuyi, NELFUND said the decision was taken to allow more eligible students to complete their applications.
“The Nigerian Education Loan Fund has approved an extension of its Student Loan Application Portal following a significant increase in awareness and nationwide demand generated by its ongoing sensitisation campaign,” the statement read.
According to the Fund, the extension will accommodate students who require additional time to apply, those recently informed about the scheme through outreach efforts, as well as institutions that have just commenced the 2025/2026 academic session or are yet to submit verified student data.
Speaking on the development, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NELFUND, Akintunde Sawyerr, said the decision aligns with the agency’s mandate to expand access to tertiary education financing.
“Our sensitisation efforts across the six geopolitical zones have significantly increased awareness and participation. We have therefore approved an extension to ensure all eligible students have a fair opportunity to apply,” he said.
NELFUND also advised institutions that are yet to begin the 2025/2026 academic session to formally request an extension alongside their approved academic calendar.
Students were urged to complete their applications on the official portal before the new deadline, which is expected to be announced after further management decisions.
The Fund reiterated its commitment to transparency and accountability in delivering sustainable student financing solutions aimed at reducing financial barriers to higher education.
As of the previous deadline, NELFUND had received over 1.69 million applications and disbursed about N183.8bn to beneficiaries.
NELFUND was established following the enactment of the student loan scheme signed into law by President Bola Tinubu in April 2024. The initiative provides interest-free loans to students in public tertiary institutions to cover tuition and living expenses.