The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has extended the deadline for applications for the 2025/2026 academic session to February 27.
In a statement on Thursday, Oseyemi Oluwatuyi, director of strategic communications, said the move was to give prospective applicants more time to complete their submissions.
Oluwatuyi explained the extension was intended “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,” she said.
The statement quoted Akintunde Sawyerr, chief executive officer of NELFUND, as saying that the extension reflects its 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 added.
NELFUND urged students who have not applied or completed their applications to take advantage of the extension and submit all required information on or before February 27, 2026.
The Fund assured that further updates and information would be provided through its official communication channels.
Recall that NELFUND was established to administer the Nigeria Student Loan Scheme, which was enacted into law by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in April 2024.
The initiative provides interest-free loans to students in public tertiary institutions to help cover tuition and living expenses.
The applications opened in May 2024 to remove financial barriers and support students from low-income families.
Loan beneficiaries are required to repay the funds after graduation upon securing employment.
As of January 29, 2026, the total disbursement under the scheme stood at N174,561,719,810.
