The Nigerian Education Loan Fund has extended the deadline for its Student Loan Application Portal following a sharp rise in applications driven by increased awareness across the country.
The decision comes days after the Fund reminded prospective applicants that the portal was scheduled to close on February 27, 2026. However, with growing interest from students and institutions, the agency approved additional time to ensure more eligible applicants can complete their submissions.
The extension was announced in a statement on Monday by NELFUND’s Director of Strategic Communications, Oseyemi Oluwatuyi, who said the move followed “a significant increase in awareness and nationwide demand” resulting from the Fund’s ongoing sensitisation campaign.
According to the statement, the extra days will accommodate students who require more time to finalise their applications, prospective applicants who recently learned about the scheme, institutions that have just commenced the 2025/2026 academic session, and schools yet to submit verified student data.
NELFUND’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Akintunde Sawyerr, said outreach activities across the six geopolitical zones had substantially boosted participation.
“Our sensitisation efforts have expanded awareness nationwide. In line with our mandate to widen access to tertiary education financing, we have approved this extension to ensure every eligible student has a fair and equal opportunity to apply,” he said.
The Fund advised institutions that have not yet begun their 2025/2026 academic session to formally request an extension and submit their approved academic calendars. Students were also urged to complete their applications through the official portal before the new deadline.
NELFUND reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, accountability and sustainable student financing, stressing that the scheme is designed to remove financial barriers to higher education.
As of the previous closing date, the Fund disclosed that it had received 1.69 million applications and disbursed N183.8bn to beneficiaries.
NELFUND was established to administer the Nigeria 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, with repayment expected after graduation and employment.
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