By Joshua Tosin Ogunsakin 
The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has officially opened its student loan application portal for the 2025/2026 academic session, giving students across the country’s tertiary institutions the opportunity to access financial assistance for their education.
According to the agency, the application period begins on Thursday, October 23, 2025, and will close on Saturday, January 31, 2026.
This announcement was made in a statement released on Tuesday by Oseyemi Oluwatuyi, NELFUND’s Director of Strategic Communications.
The Fund encouraged new students to use their Admission Number or JAMB Registration Number in place of a matriculation number when applying.
It also called on tertiary institutions to exercise patience with students awaiting the disbursement of their loans, especially regarding registration and fee payment timelines.
“Institutional Institutions are encouraged to show understanding in enforcing registration and fee Flexibility payment deadlines for students awaiting loan disbursement.
“Institutions that have not yet commenced their 2025/2026 academic session should Special Notice formally write to NELFUND with their approved academic calendar for scheduling flexibility.
“NELFUND appeals to all institutions to consider temporary registration measures for students whose loan applications are being processed to ensure that no student loses access to education due to financial constraints,” the statement said.