The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has announced that its application portal for the 2024/2025 academic session will officially close on Tuesday, September 30, 2025.
In a statement issued by the Director of Strategic Communications, Mrs. Oseyemi Oluwatuyi, the closure marks the end of the second full cycle of the student loan scheme. According to her, the move will enable the Fund to finalize the processing of pending applications and complete upkeep disbursements for eligible students.
As part of preparations for the next academic cycle, NELFUND also released key timelines and guidelines for students and tertiary institutions nationwide.
“The current application portal will close at midnight on September 30, 2025. No further applications will be accepted after this deadline,” Oluwatuyi stated.
She added that a new application cycle for the 2025/2026 academic session will begin in the second week of October 2025 and remain open until January 2026.
All institutions are required to update student data on the Student Verification System (SVS) to enable students to apply for loans in the upcoming session.
The statement also advised institutions that have not yet commenced a new academic session to formally notify NELFUND for special concessions to accommodate their students during the new application window.
NELFUND warned that all applications for the 2024/2025 session not verified by institutions by October 8, 2025, will be automatically cancelled. Affected students will need to submit fresh applications during the 2025/2026 cycle.
Additionally, the Fund noted that many unapproved or unpaid applications are due to institutions’ failure to complete the mandatory verification process. NELFUND is currently engaging with these institutions and may publish the names of non-compliant schools in the interest of transparency.
The disbursement of upkeep funds for the 2024/2025 session will continue through November 2025. However, students must reapply under the next academic cycle to continue receiving financial support.
Speaking on the development, Managing Director/Chief Executive of NELFUND, Mr. Akintunde Sawyerr, reaffirmed the Fund’s commitment to expanding access to higher education through equitable financial assistance.
“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 working with institutions to ensure that no eligible student is left behind.”
He emphasized that institutional cooperation—particularly timely record updates on the SVS—is essential for the success of the scheme.
To ensure accountability, October 8, 2025, remains the final date for institutions to verify all pending applications.
Students are encouraged to liaise with their school management to ensure their applications are verified before the deadline. Meanwhile, institutions are urged to comply fully with NELFUND’s guidelines to avoid disrupting students’ access to the loan scheme.
As NELFUND prepares to roll out the third phase of the programme, the Fund reaffirmed its mission to make higher education financially accessible to all eligible Nigerian students.