As a student, getting money to carry out school runs can be a challenge. Sometimes, even our parents find it hard to help with payment for school fees, buy books, or even give us a monthly allowance. Well, if you’re in the same shoes, then help is not far off.
To help the financial burden of education in Nigeria, the Federal Government of Nigeria created the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND). The portal has been opened for the 2025/2026 academic session to provide financial help for needy Nigerian students.
This post will guide you on everything you need to know about NELFUND, and the step-by-step process on how to register for the NELFUND Student Loan 2025/2026. Let’s begin by looking at what the NELFUND platform is all about.
What is NELFUND?
The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) was established by the Nigerian government to make higher education affordable for all Nigerian students.
The program helps students with student loans to pay for their school fees, textbooks, and other expenses that may affect their learning process. When you compare it with the regular bank loans, the NELFUND loan is interest-free.
Objectives of the NELFUND
These are the objectives of the NELFUND platform;
- To reduce the number of students dropping out due to their inability to pay their school fees and other educational levies.
- To help promote equal opportunity for education across Nigeria regardless of whether rich or poor.
- Support young Nigerians in achieving their career goals.
- To ease the pressure on parents and guardians who support their children in school.
Who Can Apply for the NELFUND Student Loan?
These are the eligibility criteria needed to be eligible for the NELFUND student loan;
- Applicants must be eligible citizens of Nigeria.
- You must be a student of an accredited institution. This means that your school must be approved by the National Universities Commission (NUC), National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), or National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE).
- Interested students must have valid identification for NELFUND to have an idea of who they are.
- Applicants must be full-time students of their institution.
- You must have an admission or matriculation number.
- It is expected that you have a valid email address and phone number.
Documents Needed by NELFUND
These are the documents that you should have handy before applying for the NELFUND loan;
- National Identification Number Slip
- Bank Verification Number (BVN)
- Admission Letter from JAMB
- Passport Photograph (A recent passport photograph in .jpg or .PNG format).
- School Information (School name, faculty, department, course of study, and so on).
- Email Address
- Phone Number
If you have all of these documents handy, then you’re qualified for the next step. The subheadings below outline the step-by-step guide on how to register for NELFUND 2025/2026
How to Register for NELFUND Student Loan for 2025/2026
This is a step-by-step process on how to register for the student loan via the NELFUND portal;
Step 1: Visit the Official NELFUND Portal
First, visit the NELFUND portal (https://nelf.gov.ng/) via your smartphone or computer. Kindly avoid any fake links shared on WhatsApp or ahu other social media platforms.
You’ll see a homepage that has clear buttons like “Apply Now”. Click on it and a new page will appear on your screen.
Step 2: Create an Account
After you’ve clicked on that button, you’ll be asked to fill out a form. Well, you’ll be asked to enter basic information such as your Full name, Email Address, Phone Number, and your password. When you fill in your correct information, then click on “Create Account”.
Immediately, you’ll get a One-Time Password (OTP) on your email or phone. Enter the OTP in the provided field on the NELFUND portal to verify your account.
Step 3: Log In to Your Dashboard
After verification, return to the portal and log in with your email and password. You’ll now see your dashboard where all the application steps are displayed.
Step 4: Verify Your Identity
In this step, you will be asked to provide your NIN and BVN. It is this information that you provide that NELFUND would use to confirm your identity.
Always make sure that your names match exactly on both documents. If there’s any mismatch, it could lead to disqualification. So, correct it before proceeding further with your application.
Step 5: Enter Your School Details
Here, NELFUND will ask some questions such as your Institution name, Faculty, Department, Admissions Year, JAMB Number, and so on.
If your school is already verified by NELFUND, it will appear in the drop-down list. If not, contact your school’s registry or bursary department to confirm they’ve uploaded student records.
Step 6: Upload Required Documents
This step would require that you provide scanned copies of the required documents. Ensure that the details and information on the documents uploaded are clear enough.
The documents that you’ll be asked to upload include a Passport photograph, an Admission letter or school ID card, and a NIN slip. Your documents can be in .jpg, .png, or even PDF format. Also, they must not exceed 2MB each.
Step 7. Click “Submit Application”
After submission, you’ll receive an email with your Application ID. Please save this “Application ID” because it is proof that you have successfully applied.
Those are the steps needed to completely register and apply for the NELFUND loan via the NELFUND portal. However, if you could not find your school on the NELFUND portal, here is what you should do.
How Schools Help Verify Student Applications
NELFUND works hand-in-hand with schools. After you apply, your institution must verify that you’re a registered student.
So, if your school has not uploaded your record to NELFUND’s database, your application might remain “pending.” To fix this, contact your school’s registry early. Tell them that you have applied for NELFUND and ask if your details have been verified.
Once your application is approved and verified by your institution, NELFUND begins disbursing funds.
What You Should Know About NELFUND Loan Disbursement
Many students think that the loan is usually paid into their bank account directly. That’s absolutely not it. Usually, the loan is paid directly to your school’s account.
Afterwards, the bursary or finance office in your school will then record the payment for your tuition fees.
In some cases, you may also receive a small allowance for learning materials but this depends on your course and your school’s method.
How NELFUND Loan Repayment Works
The NELFUND repayment plan is very flexible. Well, you’re not expected to pay immediately while you’re in school. NELFUND is not expecting you to pay back so soon.
Instead, the NELFUND repayment plan has been designed for you to start paying after you finish your NYSC and start working. Yes, just like how the American Student Loan system is designed.
The good thing about this loan is that it is interest-free, and you are only required to pay back the exact amount borrowed. In addition to that, if you lose your job or are unemployed after school, the repayment can be postponed until your situation improves.
NELFUND 2025/2026 Application Deadline
The application for the NELFUND loan will open from October 23, 2025 — January 31, 2026. Ensure that you apply early to stand a chance of being among the first batch of the NELFUND loan disbursement.
Tips to Increase Your Chance of Approval
Ensure that you’ve done all of this to increase your chances of approval for the NELFUND loan;
1. Apply Early
Please don’t wait until the last week before you apply. In fact, many students rush at the last minute and make mistakes or face network problems. The network congestion problem happened in previous years and it could happen again. So, applying early gives you more time to correct any issues.
2. Make sure your documents are complete
Carry out a final check on all your information that you may submit. Make sure that they are all correct. For example, your NIN slip and passport photo should all be clear and up to date as required. If not, this could cause a big problem during registration.
3. Your Information Must Be Consistent
The name and date of birth on your NIN, BVN, and school records must be the same. There’ve been cases where an “Chi” or “Ola” or “Abdul” or “Oghene” included or absent in a particular document could affect the application selection. So, rectify all of this to stand a chance of being picked without issues.
4. Avoid Fake Agents
It has always been reinstated every year not to give money to anyone who says they can “help” you get approved faster. If you don’t know, many of them are scammers. Make sure to always apply by yourself through the official website or portal. The steps outlined above are not hard. So, follow them accordingly to apply.
5. Always Check your Email
After applying, keep checking your email for messages from NELFUND. Yes, this is because they may send you updates, verification links, or even ask you to correct something in your application.
Conclusion
The NELFUND student loan is one of the best ways for Nigerian students to get financial support without stress. It was created by the Federal Government to help students in higher institutions pay for tuition, books, and other school expenses. Once approved, the money is paid directly to your school, and repayment only starts after graduation and NYSC when you begin working. With this loan, students no longer need to drop out because of school fees.
If this guide helped you, kindly share it with other students and leave your questions or experiences in the comment box
