The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFund) has approved an extension of its student loan application portal closure following a nationwide surge in demand.
According to a statement on Monday by Oseyemi Oluwatuyi, NELFund’s Director of Strategic Communications, the decision was prompted by feedback from students and key stakeholders, as well as a spike in applications and inquiries. The portal had initially been scheduled to close on February 27, 2026.
Oluwatuyi said the additional days are intended to give all eligible students sufficient time to complete their applications. The extension targets students needing extra time, prospective applicants recently informed about the scheme, and institutions that are only now beginning their 2025/2026 academic session. Institutions yet to submit verified student lists are also covered.
Within 12 days of the initial deadline lapse, NELFund received 66,691 new applications. As of January 31, total applications stood at 1,532,552, rising to 1,599,243 within 12 days. Fresh figures released on Monday show total applications have now reached 1,704,174, with more than N183 billion already disbursed to cover institutional fees and students’ upkeep allowances.
Speaking on the development, Akintunde Sawyerr, NELFund’s Managing Director, reaffirmed the Fund’s commitment to equitable access to education financing. “Our sensitisation efforts across the six geopolitical zones have significantly increased awareness and participation. Therefore, in line with our mandate to expand access to tertiary education financing, we have approved an extension to ensure all eligible students have a fair and equal opportunity to apply,” Sawyerr said.
NELFund further noted that institutions that have not commenced the 2025/2026 academic session must submit an official request for extension alongside their approved academic calendar for consideration. Students are urged to take advantage of the extended portal to complete their applications before final closure, in line with the Fund’s commitment to transparency and sustainable student financing solutions.