The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) says its application portal for the 2024/2025 academic session will close on September 30 as the agency prepares for the next cycle of its interest-free student loan scheme.
In a statement on Monday, NELFUND said the closure would allow it to complete the processing of pending applications and upkeep payments, marking the end of the scheme’s second full cycle.
Akintunde Sawyerr, managing director of NELFUND, said the move was “a necessary step to prepare for the next cycle,” adding that the fund “remains committed to removing financial barriers for students and to working with institutions to ensure that no eligible student is left behind.”
According to Sawyerr, the portal for 2025/2026 applications will reopen in the second week of October and remain open until January 2026.
He added that universities and other tertiary institutions must update their students’ records on the student verification system (SVS) to enable fresh applications.
“Any 2024/2025 application not verified by an institution by October 8, 2025, will be automatically cancelled, and affected students must reapply for the new session,” the NELFUND boss said.
“Disbursement of upkeep allowances for 2024/2025 beneficiaries will continue until November 2025, but recipients must reapply for the next session to maintain support.”
He warned that institutions that fail to verify student lists by the deadline risk being publicly named for non-compliance.
He also urged 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.”
