By Achile Danjuma
The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has announced an extension of the deadline for its student loan application portal, responding to a surge in interest and applications from students nationwide.
In a statement released on Monday, the Fund’s Director of Strategic Communications, Oseyemi Oluwatuyi, confirmed that the decision aligns with NELFUND’s commitment to ensuring equitable access for all eligible students.
According to Ms. Oluwatuyi, the extension was authorized by the Managing Director, Akintunde Sawyerr, following overwhelming feedback from students and stakeholders. The move aims to accommodate a wave of new applicants spurred by the Fund’s ongoing sensitisation campaigns across the country.
While the portal was originally scheduled to close on February 27, 2026, the extension provides additional time for two key groups: students who need more time to finalize their applications and prospective applicants who recently learned about the scheme through NELFUND’s outreach efforts.
Mr. Sawyerr noted that the awareness campaigns across the six geopolitical zones have significantly boosted participation. Furthermore, the extension will benefit institutions that are just commencing the 2025/2026 academic session, as well as those yet to submit their verified student lists to the Fund.
To facilitate the process, NELFUND advised institutions that have not yet started their academic session to submit a formal request for an extension. Such requests must be accompanied by their approved academic calendar for consideration.
The Managing Director urged all eligible students to seize this opportunity. “We encourage students to take advantage of this window to complete their applications through the Fund’s official portal before the final closure,” Mr. Sawyerr stated, reinforcing the organization’s dedication to making financial support accessible to all.