The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has encouraged tertiary institutions across the country to allow students whose loan application status shows “Verified” or “Disbursed” on the NELFUND portal to sit for their 2025/2026 first-semester examinations, even if their tuition fees have not yet been fully paid.
According to the Fund, a “Verified” or “Disbursed” status on the platform is sufficient evidence that the student has successfully completed the loan application process and that financial support is already being processed under the scheme.
NELFUND gave the encouragement while commending Delta State University, Abraka, for adopting a student-friendly directive that allows affected students to participate in their examinations after presenting proof of their verified or disbursed status.
The institution had earlier issued an internal memorandum through the Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), instructing faculties to permit students whose NELFUND status shows “Verified” or “Disbursed” to write their examinations upon presentation of evidence from the platform.
The directive stated that such students have already satisfied the necessary requirements under the loan scheme and should not be academically disadvantaged while the financial support process is ongoing.
Reacting to the development, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NELFUND, Mr. Akintunde Sawyerr, described the measure as a practical approach that supports the purpose of the student loan programme.
“We warmly welcome this student-centred approach by Delta State University. It reflects a clear understanding of the purpose of the NELFUND scheme, which is to ensure that no Nigerian student is denied access to education because of financial constraints,” he said.
Sawyerr explained that students who have reached the “Verified” or “Disbursed” stage on the NELFUND platform have already completed the key stages of the application process and are recognised within the system as beneficiaries of the scheme.
“At NELFUND, we are very pleased to see institutions taking practical, youth-friendly steps that allow students who have successfully completed the application process to continue their academic activities without disruption,” he added.
He noted that allowing such students to write their examinations serves as recognition that their financial support is already in process and that the scheme is designed to remove barriers that may prevent students from progressing in their studies.
NELFUND also urged other universities, polytechnics and colleges of education across Nigeria to adopt similar supportive measures that prioritise students’ academic progress while the loan processing continues.
According to the Fund, the collaboration between institutions and the NELFUND programme is essential to expanding access to higher education and ensuring that financial limitations do not prevent qualified students from completing their academic requirements.
