The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has extended the deadline for its 2025/2026 student loan applications to February 27, 2026.
The Fund announced the extension on Thursday in Abuja, shifting the earlier closing date of January 31 to allow students more time to complete their applications.
NELFUND said the decision was taken to ensure that eligible applicants are not excluded due to delays in completing required documentation.
Speaking on the extension, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NELFUND, Akintunde Sawyerr, said the move reflects the Fund’s commitment to access and fairness.
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“This extension reflects our commitment to inclusivity and access,” Sawyerr said.
“It ensures that every eligible Nigerian student has a fair opportunity to benefit from the loan scheme.”
Earlier this month, NELFUND confirmed that it had disbursed ₦161.97 billion to over 864,000 students since the launch of the programme, highlighting growing uptake of the scheme across public tertiary institutions.
Students who are yet to apply, or who have started but not completed their applications, have been advised to submit all required information before the new deadline.
NELFUND manages the Federal Government’s interest-free student loan scheme for students in public tertiary institutions, covering tuition fees and related academic expenses.