Abuja, Nigeria, September 29, 2025 – The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has announced that the application portal for the 2024/2025 academic session will officially close on Tuesday, September 30, 2025. This closure signals the end of the second full cycle of the loan scheme and will allow the Fund to complete the processing of pending student loan applications and upkeep payments.
In its statement, NELFUND explained that the closure is necessary to ensure proper management of applications before moving into a new cycle. The Fund also released timelines for the commencement of the 2025/2026 academic session.
According to the update, the portal for the current session will no longer accept applications after September 30, 2025. The Fund stressed that students who do not complete their applications before the deadline will have to wait for the next cycle.
For the new academic year, NELFUND disclosed that the application portal will reopen in the second week of October 2025 for fresh applications into the 2025/2026 session. The portal will remain open until January 2026, giving students across Nigeria ample time to apply.
Institutions have also been directed to update their students’ records on the Student Verification System (SVS). This update, according to NELFUND, is critical for enabling students to successfully access the education loan scheme.
The Fund further noted that institutions that have not yet commenced a new academic session within the application window should notify NELFUND. This will allow for concessions to be granted so that their students are not excluded from the process.
In addition, NELFUND announced that all applications for the 2024/2025 session that remain unverified by institutions after October 8, 2025, will be automatically cancelled. Students affected by this cancellation will be required to reapply for the 2025/2026 academic session. The Fund urged such students to follow up with their school managements to ensure timely verification before the deadline.
On unapproved applications, NELFUND explained that delays are linked to institutions not completing the mandatory verification of student lists. The Fund said it is actively engaging with these institutions to resolve the matter. However, it warned that schools that fail to verify their students by the deadline risk being named publicly.
NELFUND also confirmed that upkeep payments for students under the 2024/2025 session will continue to be disbursed until November 2025. At the same time, students must reapply for the 2025/2026 session in order to continue receiving upkeep payments in the new academic year.
Speaking on the development, the Managing Director and Chief Executive of NELFUND, Mr. Akintunde Sawyerr, emphasized the importance of the timelines and the role of institutions in ensuring students benefit from the initiative.
“Announcing the closure of the current application portal is a necessary step to prepare for the next cycle. NELFUND remains committed to removing financial barriers for students and to working with institutions to ensure that no eligible student is left behind. These timelines provide clarity for students, parents, and institutions to plan ahead and participate fully in the process. We also urge all institutions to update their students’ records on the Student Verification System (SVS) promptly, as this step is critical to enabling students to access the Fund,” he said.
The Fund restated that October 8, 2025, is the final date for institutions to submit verified student records. This measure, according to NELFUND, is to ensure transparency in the education loan scheme.
Students were encouraged to stay in close contact with their institutions, complete their applications on time, and reapply promptly when the new portal opens in October 2025. NELFUND stressed that doing so will prevent them from missing out on the benefits of the interest-free student loan scheme that supports equitable access to higher education in Nigeria.