By Feyisayo Arowolo
The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has opened its student loan application portal for the 2025/2026 academic session, offering financial support to students across tertiary institutions in Nigeria.
The application period will run from Thursday, October 23rd, 2025 to Saturday, January 31, 2026. This was contained in a statement issued on Tuesday by NELFUND’s Director of Strategic Communications, Mrs Oseyemi Oluwatuyi.
Eligible students for this scheme include returning and newly admitted students of accredited tertiary institutions. Fresh students are to apply using either their Admission Number or JAMB Registration Number (in place of Matriculation Number).
The agency appealed to all institutions to consider temporary registration measures for students whose loan applications are being processed to ensure that no student loses access to education due to financial constraints.
Steps to apply for the loan:
1. Visit the official NELFUND website: Access the portal at nelf.gov.ng and click on the “Apply Now” button.
2. Begin registration: Select “Get Started” and respond to preliminary questions to confirm eligibility.
3. Verify educational details: Choose your institution from the dropdown list and provide your matriculation number to confirm that your school has submitted your data.
4. Authenticate with JAMB: Verify your profile by entering your JAMB details. Applicants whose National Identification Numbers (NIN) are not linked to JAMB can use their NIN for validation.
5. Create an account: Enter a valid email address, set a password, and activate the account via the verification link sent to your inbox.
6. Log in and complete your profile: Update contact, educational, and banking details — including BVN, bank name, and account number.
7. Apply for the loan: After logging in, click “Request for Student Loan” and specify whether funds are required for tuition, personal upkeep, or both.
8. Upload supporting documents: Applicants must upload a scanned copy of their admission letter. Additional documents, such as a student ID card or institution invoice, are optional.
9. Review and submit: Carefully read the loan terms, agree to the Terms & Conditions and Global Standing Instruction (GSI) Mandate, and click “Submit Application”.
10. Track application status: Applicants can monitor their progress in the “Loans” section of their dashboard. Notifications will be sent once a decision is made.
NELFUND advised applicants to ensure all provided information is accurate to avoid delays in processing. Unsuccessful applicants are encouraged to contact NELFUND through the email address provided on its official website.
NELFUND is a government initiative that provides interest-free loans to eligible Nigerian students to cover tuition fees and living expenses.
For technical support or enquiries, institutions can contact NELFUND through:
Email – data@nelf.gov.ng
Instagram/X (formerly Twitter) – @nelfund
Facebook and LinkedIn – Nigerian Education Loan Fund – NELFUND
The official website is www.nelf.gov.ng.
SOURCES: NELFUND Press Statement, The Nation Newspaper
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