The Nigerian Education Loan Fund, (NELFund), has said the application portal for the 2024/2025 academic session would close on Tuesday (tomorrow), September 30.
NELFund’s Managing Director, Mr. Akintunde Sawyerr who announced this at a news conference in Abuja on Monday, said that the move was to allow the Fund to conclude processing of pending applications and upkeep payments.
He also announced timelines for the 2025/2026 academic cycle, in line with its mandate to expand access to higher education through interest-free student loans.
According to him, the loan portal would reopen in the second week of October for fresh applications and remain open until January 2026.
‘NELFund remains committed to removing financial barriers for students and working with institutions to ensure that no eligible student is left behind.
‘These timelines provide clarity for students, parents, and institutions to plan and participate fully in the process’, Sawyerr said.
He directed academic institutions to update their students’ records on the Student Verification System to enable applicants access the scheme.
He added that all unverified applications for 2024/2025 would be automatically cancelled after 8 October, noting that students affected would be required to reapply under the new session.
He warned that institutions that failed to verify students’ records risk being publicly listed for non-compliance.
On upkeep stipends, Sawyerr explained that the payment for the 2024/2025 session would continue until November, adding that students were expected to reapply for 2025/2026 to continue receiving payments.
On repayment terms, he reiterated that the scheme remained interest-free while repayment would begin two years after completion of the National Youth Service Corps, with employers mandated to deduct 10 per cent of beneficiaries’ salaries.
He further expressed concern over arbitrary hikes in tuition and ancillary fees by some institutions, noting that a committee set up by the Minister of Education is working with regulators to harmonise and standardise fee structures across institutions.
Responding to concerns about upkeep stipends, he said the current ₦20,000 monthly allowance would not be increased immediately.
Sawyerr said that an ongoing review of cost-of-living indices across different regions could however lead to weighted adjustments in future.
