NELFUND extends the student loan deadline to February 27, 2026, to ensure wider access for eligible Nigerian students

The Nigerian Education Loan Fund, NELFUND, has extended the application deadline for the 2025/2026 academic session to February 27, 2026, in a move aimed at ensuring broader access to the Federal Government’s student loan scheme.

Also read: OOU Vice-Chancellor hails NELFUND for supporting students

The extension was announced on Thursday in a statement issued in Abuja by the Director of Strategic Communications, Oseyemi Oluwatuyi.

The earlier deadline of January 31, 2026, was shifted to allow prospective applicants additional time to complete and submit their applications.

According to the statement, the decision was taken to ensure that no eligible student is excluded from the process due to timing constraints.

“The Nigerian Education Loan Fund has announced an extension of the application deadline for the 2025/2026 academic session from January 31, 2026, to February 27, 2026,” Oluwatuyi said.

Commenting on the development, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NELFUND, Akintunde Sawyerr, described the extension as a clear demonstration of the Fund’s commitment to inclusivity and access to education.

“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,” Sawyerr said.

NELFUND urged students who are yet to apply or who have not completed their applications to take advantage of the extended deadline and ensure that all required information is submitted on or before February 27, 2026.

The Fund added that further information and updates would continue to be communicated through its official channels.

NELFUND was established to administer the Nigeria Student Loan Scheme, which was signed into law by President Bola Tinubu in April 2024.

Under the scheme, the Federal Government provides interest-free loans to students in public tertiary institutions to cover tuition fees and living expenses.

Applications for the programme opened in May 2024 to ease financial barriers to education, particularly for students from low-income backgrounds.

Also read: NELFUND disburses ₦174bn to over 800,000 students

As of January 29, 2026, a total of ₦174.56 billion had been disbursed under the student loan scheme, underscoring the growing scale and impact of the intervention.