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The Federal Government has commenced a new phase in the implementation of its student loan programme following the formal activation of the online application process for the 2025/2026 academic session.
The initiative represents a major advancement in the government’s efforts to widen access to tertiary education through sustainable financial support.
The loan portal, managed by the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), is now operational for students across all accredited tertiary institutions in Nigeria.
The application window is open from Thursday, October 23, 2025, to Saturday, January 31, 2026, allowing eligible students ample time to submit their applications through the Fund’s dedicated digital platform.
The scheme provides concessional funding for undergraduates in universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, and technical institutions, ensuring that qualified students can pursue their education without financial interruption.
The government has emphasized that the programme is designed to promote inclusion, support economic mobility, and reduce the dropout rate associated with limited access to education financing.
NELFUND advised newly admitted students who may not yet possess a matriculation number to use their admission number or JAMB registration number when completing their application.
The agency also appealed to tertiary institutions to show flexibility in enforcing registration and fee payment deadlines for students awaiting loan approval and disbursement.
The Fund encouraged schools that have not commenced the 2025/2026 academic session to formally communicate their academic calendars for scheduling alignment, ensuring a coordinated disbursement process across institutions.
It further urged universities, polytechnics, and colleges to implement temporary registration measures that would enable students awaiting loan confirmation to retain access to classes and institutional services.
The Federal Government has continued to position the student loan scheme as a central pillar of its education finance reform strategy, aimed at closing long-standing funding gaps in the tertiary education sector.
By institutionalizing a digital loan system backed by legislative support, the programme is expected to increase enrolment, improve affordability, and strengthen Nigeria’s human capital development agenda.
This latest phase builds on previous groundwork, including the establishment of operational structures, data verification systems, and institutional partnerships to ensure transparency and accountability in loan administration.
The Federal Government maintains that the initiative will create a sustainable model for education financing, reduce dependence on personal funding, and support the growth of a skilled and competitive workforce.
With the application portal now active, the student loan programme enters a critical operational stage that will determine its long-term impact on Nigeria’s education landscape.
The government has reiterated its commitment to ensuring that no student is denied access to education due to financial limitations, reaffirming its vision of inclusive, equitable, and sustainable growth in the nation’s tertiary education system.
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