NELFUND to Close 2024/2025 Student Loan Portal September 30

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.

The closure marks the end of the second full cycle of the Federal Government’s interest-free student loan scheme, which provides financial support to undergraduates in Nigerian tertiary institutions.

In a statement on Monday, NELFUND said no further applications would be accepted after the deadline. The portal will reopen in the second week of October 2025 for the 2025/2026 academic session and remain active until January 2026.

The agency explained that the transition period would be used to process outstanding applications and continue upkeep disbursements under the current cycle.

“Institutions are hereby informed to update their students’ records on the Student Verification System (SVS) to enable students to apply for the 2025/2026 academic session,” the statement read.

It added that institutions yet to commence a new session within the application window should notify NELFUND for possible concessions.

The Fund also warned that all unverified applications for the 2024/2025 academic year would be automatically cancelled after October 8, 2025. Students affected were advised to urge their institutions to complete the verification process before the deadline.

NELFUND further clarified that pending applications remain unapproved due to delays by some schools in verifying student lists. It said engagements with such institutions were ongoing but stressed that the names of non-compliant schools would be published after the deadline for transparency.

Meanwhile, upkeep disbursements for the 2024/2025 session will continue until November 2025. However, beneficiaries must reapply for the 2025/2026 cycle to continue receiving payments.

Managing Director of NELFUND, Akintunde Sawyerr, described the closure as a necessary step to ensure smooth operations.

“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,” Sawyerr said.

He urged institutions to promptly update their records on the SVS and encouraged students to complete applications on time to avoid missing out on the scheme’s benefits.