The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has extended the deadline for its Student Loan Application Portal, responding to a nationwide surge in interest following its awareness campaign.

Originally scheduled to close on February 27, 2026, the portal will now remain open for additional days to allow more students to complete their applications.

The extension, announced in a statement by NELFUND Director of Strategic Communications, Oseyemi Oluwatuyi, aims to accommodate students who require extra time, newly informed prospective applicants, and institutions that have just begun their 2025/2026 academic sessions or are yet to submit verified student lists.

“NELFUND’s sensitisation efforts across all six geopolitical zones have significantly increased awareness and participation,” the statement read.

NELFUND Managing Director, Akintunde Sawyerr, emphasized that the move aligns with the fund’s mandate to expand access to tertiary education financing and ensure all eligible students have a fair opportunity to apply.

Students are urged to complete their applications through the official NELFUND portal before it eventually closes.

Institutions that have not yet started the current academic session are advised to submit an official extension request along with their approved academic calendar.

Since its inception, NELFUND has received over 1.69 million student applications and disbursed N183.8 billion in interest-free loans.

Established under the Nigeria Student Loan Scheme, enacted into law by President Bola Tinubu in April 2024, the program offers tuition and living expense loans to students in public tertiary institutions, particularly benefiting those from low-income backgrounds.

Beneficiaries are required to repay the loans after completing their education and securing employment.

NELFUND reiterates its commitment to transparency, accountability, and sustainable student financing, aiming to remove financial barriers to higher education in Nigeria.