NELFUND Extends 2025/2026 Student Loan Application Deadline To February 27

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

The extension moves the initial deadline from January 31, 2026, and is aimed at giving prospective applicants who are yet to apply or complete their applications additional time to do so.

NELFUND explained that the decision was taken to ensure that all interested and eligible students are able to submit the required information within the stipulated period.

Reacting to the development, the Director General of Delta State Bureau for Orientation and Communications, Dr Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe, said the State urges all eligible students of Delta State origin studying in higher institutions across Nigeria to take advantage of the extended deadline and apply for the loan free of charge.

The application is to be completed online via the official NELFUND portal at https://nelf.gov.ng by clicking on the “Apply Now”

To apply, students are required to create an account on the portal using a valid email address, verify their identity and student status with their National Identification Number (NIN), Bank Verification Number (BVN), and Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) registration number.

Applicants must also provide details of their institution, including matriculation number or admission/JAMB number for fresh students, select the type of loan needed—either institutional fees, upkeep allowance, or both—and upload their admission letter before submitting the application.

NELFUND noted that applicants can track the status of their submissions through the online portal.

The Delta State Government described the extension as a demonstration of the Federal Government’s and NELFUND’s commitment to inclusivity and improved access to education. The student loan scheme, it added, aligns with the vision of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to promote equal opportunities for all Deltans under the Renewed Hope for MORE Agenda.

The state government encouraged all eligible students to seize the opportunity and wished Delta State students in higher institutions across the country success in their applications.