The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has extended the application deadline for the 2025/2026 academic session to February 27, 2026.

The Fund made the announcement in a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday, noting that the original deadline of January 31, 2026, has been shifted to give prospective applicants additional time to complete and submit their applications.

Oseyemi Oluwatuyi, Director of Strategic Communications, explained that the extension was intended to ensure that no eligible student misses out on the opportunity due to timing constraints.

“The Nigerian Education Loan Fund has extended the application deadline for the 2025/2026 academic session from January 31, 2026, to February 27, 2026,” the statement said.

Commenting on the extension, NELFUND’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Akintunde Sawyerr, emphasized that the move reinforces the Fund’s commitment to inclusivity and access.

“This extension reflects our dedication to ensuring that every eligible Nigerian student has a fair opportunity to benefit from the Fund. We recognize that some applicants may need extra time to complete their submissions, and this decision accommodates that,” he said.

NELFUND encouraged students who have yet to apply or complete their applications to take advantage of the extended deadline and ensure all required information is submitted by February 27, 2026.

The Fund added that further updates and information will be shared through its official channels.

Established to administer the Nigeria Student Loan Scheme, NELFUND’s programme was signed into law by President Bola Tinubu in April 2024. Under the scheme, the Federal Government provides interest-free loans to students in public tertiary institutions to cover tuition fees and living expenses.

Applications for the programme opened in May 2024 to help remove financial barriers to education, particularly for students from low-income backgrounds.

As of January 29, 2026, a total of N174,561,719,810 had been disbursed under the student loan scheme.