The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFund) has extended the application deadline for the 2025/2026 academic session to February 27, 2026.
Gatekeepers News reports that the 30-day extension was announced in a statement issued by Oseyemi Oluwatuyi, Director of Strategic Communications at NELFund, who said the decision was taken to give applicants more time to complete and submit their forms.
According to the Fund, the extension is aimed at ensuring that no eligible student is left out because of timing challenges.
Managing Director of NELFund, Akintunde Sawyerr, said the move reflects the agency’s commitment to fairness and access for all Nigerian students.
“This extension reflects our commitment to inclusivity and access. We understand that some applicants may require additional time to complete their submissions, and this decision ensures that every eligible Nigerian student has a fair opportunity to benefit from the Fund,” he said.
NELFund urged prospective applicants to take advantage of the extended deadline and ensure that all required information is submitted on or before February 27, 2026.
Over N170bn Disbursed Nationwide
The Fund also disclosed that it has begun disbursing loans for the 2025/2026 session to several universities, including:
- Lagos State University (LASU) – N223 million
- University of Lagos (UNILAG) – N1.33 billion
- Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) – N85 million
According to recent data from the agency, 940,396 students have benefited from the scheme since its launch, with over N170 billion disbursed nationwide.
