From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has announced the closure of the loan application portal for the 2024/2025 academic session, effective Tuesday, September 30.
This marks the conclusion of the second full cycle of the scheme and will enable the Fund to finalise the processing of pending applications.
Managing Director of NELFUND, Mr Akintunde Sawyerr, told journalists at a press conference in Abuja on Monday that the closure of the current application portal is a necessary step to prepare for the next cycle.
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“With this, no further student applications will be accepted after this date. However, the portal will reopen in the second week of October 2025 for fresh applications into the 2025/2026 academic session, and the cycle will remain open until January 2026.”
He assured that NELFUND was committed to removing financial barriers for students, and to working with institutions to ensure that no eligible student is left behind. “These timelines provide clarity for students, parents, and institutions to plan ahead and participate fully in the process.
“We also urge all institutions to update their students’ records on the Student Verification System (SVS) promptly, as this step is critical to enabling students to access the Fund. To ensure transparency, the final date for institutions to submit verified student records is October 8, 2025.”
He appealed to the institutions to regularly update their students’ records on the Student Verification System (SVS) to enable and hasten students’ applications for the 2025/2026 academic session.
He also advised those that have not commenced a new academic session within the stated application window to notify NELFUND for additional concessions to accommodate its students.
“All applications for the 2024/2025 academic session that remain unverified by institutions after October 8, 2025, will be automatically cancelled. Hence, students in this category are strongly encouraged to prompt their school management to complete the verification process before the deadline. Affected students will be required to submit fresh applications for the 2025/2026 academic year.
“All unapproved applications for 2024/2025. Students whose applications remain unapproved or unpaid should note that this is due to their institutions not completing the mandatory verification of student lists.”
Regarding the ₦20,000 monthly upkeep, the NELFUND boss explained that the 2024/2025 session will continue to be disbursed until November 2025, but insisted that students must reapply for the 2025/2026 academic session to continue receiving upkeep payments.
He encouraged students to liaise closely with their institutions, complete their applications on time, and reapply promptly for the 2025/2026 session to avoid missing out on the benefits of the scheme.
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