NELFUND shuts 2024/2025 portal, sets date for next application cycle

The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has officially closed its application portal for the 2024/2025 academic year as of Tuesday, September 30, 2025.

According to the Fund, this marks the end of the second full cycle of the loan scheme.

The closure will allow NELFUND to finish processing pending applications and continue payments to approved students.

In a statement signed by Mrs. Oseyemi Oluwatuyi, the Director of Strategic Communications,

NELFUND announced that the portal will reopen in the second week of October 2025 for the 2025/2026 academic session.

The new application window will remain open until January 2026.

The Fund directed schools to update their students’ records on the Student Verification System (SVS) so that eligible students can apply.

Schools that are yet to begin a new session within the given period were advised to notify NELFUND for special consideration.

NELFUND warned that any 2024/2025 applications left unverified by institutions after October 8, 2025, will be cancelled. Affected students will need to reapply for the 2025/2026 academic year.

The Fund added that some applications remain unpaid because certain schools have not completed the required verification.

NELFUND said it is working with such institutions but stressed that schools which fail to comply will have their names published.

On upkeep allowances, the Fund clarified that payments for the 2024/2025 session will continue until November 2025.

However, all students must reapply for the 2025/2026 session to remain eligible.