The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFund) has extended the deadline for its student loan application portal following a sharp rise in demand nationwide.
Gatekeepers News reports that in a statement issued on Monday, Oseyemi Oluwatuyi, the Fund’s director of strategic communications, said the decision came after feedback from students and key stakeholders, alongside a spike in applications and inquiries.
NELFund had earlier announced that the portal would close on February 27, 2026. However, Oluwatuyi disclosed that additional days have now been approved to give eligible students more time to complete their applications, pending further management decisions and communication.
According to the statement, the extension is “targeted at students who need extra time to complete their applications, prospective applicants who only recently became aware of the scheme during nationwide sensitisation efforts, and institutions that are just commencing their 2025/2026 academic session”.
It also applies to institutions yet to submit their verified student lists.
Applications Climb Above 1.7 Million
NELFund said it received 66,691 new applications within 12 days following the initial deadline extension.
As of January 31, when the earlier deadline lapsed, total applications stood at 1,532,552. The figure rose to 1,599,243 over the next 12 days — an increase of 66,691.
Fresh data released on Monday shows that applications have now climbed further to 1,704,174. The Fund added that more than N183 billion has been disbursed to cover institutional fees and students’ upkeep allowances.
Management Reacts
Speaking on the development, Akintunde Sawyerr, NELFund’s managing director, reiterated the Fund’s commitment to expanding access to tertiary 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 that all eligible students have a fair and equal opportunity to apply,” Sawyerr said.
NELFund added that institutions yet to commence the 2025/2026 academic session must submit an official request for extension, alongside their approved academic calendar, for consideration.
The Fund urged students to take advantage of the extended window to complete their applications through its official portal before final closure, reaffirming its commitment to transparency, accountability, and sustainable student financing aimed at eliminating financial barriers to higher education in Nigeria.
