The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has announced that the application portal for the 2024/2025 academic session will officially close on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, marking the end of the second full cycle of the loan scheme.
In a statement, the Fund explained that the closure will allow it to process all pending student loan applications and upkeep payments before transitioning into the next cycle.
According to NELFUND, students who fail to complete their applications before the deadline will have to wait until the next academic cycle. The portal for the 2025/2026 session will reopen in the second week of October 2025 and remain active until January 2026, giving students ample time to apply.
Institutions have been directed to update their students’ records on the Student Verification System (SVS), a critical requirement for enabling applicants to access the scheme. NELFUND also warned that all unverified applications for the 2024/2025 session will be automatically cancelled after October 8, 2025.
“Announcing the closure of the current application portal is a necessary step to prepare for the next cycle,” NELFUND’s Managing Director, Mr. Akintunde Sawyerr, stated. He urged schools to promptly update their students’ records, stressing that verification is key to accessing the interest-free loan.
Meanwhile, upkeep payments for students under the 2024/2025 session will continue until November 2025, but beneficiaries are required to reapply for the 2025/2026 session to continue receiving support.
NELFUND reassured Nigerians of its commitment to “removing financial barriers to education” and pledged closer collaboration with institutions to ensure transparency and equitable access for all eligible students.