The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has announced the closure of its application portal for the 2024/2025 academic session on Tuesday, September 30, 2025.
A statement by NELFUND’s Director of Strategic Communications, Mrs Oseyemi Oluwatuyi, stated that it marks the conclusion of the second full cycle of the scheme, enabling the Fund to finalise the processing of pending applications and make upkeep payments.
Advertisement
According to the statement, NELFUND is releasing timelines for the commencement of applications for the new academic session.
It noted that the portal will reopen in the second week of October 2025 for fresh applications into the 2025/2026 academic session, remaining open until January 2026.
It informed all institutions to update their students’ records on the Student Verification System (SVS) to enable students to apply for the 2025/2026 academic session.
NELFUND also urged institutions to commence a new academic session within the stated application window to notify it of additional concessions to accommodate their students.
“ All applications for the 2024/2025 academic session that remain unverified by institutions after October 8, 2025, will be automatically cancelled, requiring affected students to submit fresh applications for the 2025/2026 academic year,” the statement said.
It also informed students whose applications remain unapproved or unpaid to hold their institutions responsible for not completing the mandatory verification of student lists.
NELFUND also noted that it is actively engaging with the institutions to resolve delays and will publish the names of non-compliant institutions for transparency.
“Upkeep payments for the 2024/2025 session will continue to be disbursed until November 2025, but students must reapply for the 2025/2026 academic session to continue receiving upkeep payments,” the statement said.
Speaking on the development, the Managing Director/CEO of NELFUND, Mr. Akintunde Sawyerr, stated that the closure of the current portal is a necessary step to prepare for the next cycle, reiterating the Fund’s commitment to removing financial barriers for students and working with institutions to ensure no eligible student is left behind.
“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.
NELFUND noted that the final date for institutions to submit verified student records is October 8, 2025.
It encouraged students to liaise closely with their institutions and reapply promptly for the 2025/2026 session to avoid missing benefits.