The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has officially closed its application portal for the 2024/2025 academic session to finalize pending applications and upkeep payments.
The loan portal will reopen in the second week of October for new applications, remaining open until January 2026, aiming to expand access to interest-free student loans.
NELFUND’s Managing Director, Akintunde Sawyerr, confirmed the closure and urged institutions to update student records on the Student Verification System to ensure applicants’ eligibility. Unverified applications for 2024/2025 will be canceled after October 8, with affected students needing to reapply for the new session.
Sawyerr warned that institutions failing to verify records risk public listing for non-compliance. Upkeep payments for 2024/2025 will continue until November, but students must reapply for 2025/2026 to keep receiving stipends. The current monthly upkeep allowance of ₦20,000 will not increase immediately.
