The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), the Federal Government’s initiative under the Access to Higher Education Act of 2024, is still officially open for the 2024/2025 academic session. With a mission to eliminate financial barriers for students in public tertiary institutions, NELFUND offers interest-free student loans covering full tuition and optional ₦20,000 monthly upkeep allowances.
With a streamlined digital platform designed for speed and transparency, this year’s application cycle is already attracting massive attention nationwide. Eligible students from public universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, and technical institutions are encouraged to apply now at www.nelf.gov.ng or portal.nelf.gov.ng.
According to NELFUND’s Managing Director, Akintunde Sawyerr, the 2024/2025 cycle kicked off on February 22, 2025, just a day after the 2023/2024 window closed and promises even more efficiency with the fully digitized Student Loan Application System (SLAS). More than 647,000 students have registered so far, with over 94% completing their applications.
To apply, students must confirm their institution has uploaded their details to the SLAS portal. The process involves verifying academic details via JAMB or NIN, updating personal and bank information, uploading supporting documents like the JAMB admission letter, and selecting whether to include the ₦20,000 upkeep allowance. Applications typically take 15–30 minutes to complete, and results are delivered via email with real-time status updates available on the portal.
So far, NELFUND has disbursed over ₦73.1 billion to 366,247 students across 206 institutions, solidifying its impact as a game-changer in Nigeria’s education landscape. President Bola Tinubu, who signed the Access to Higher Education Act shortly after assuming office, described the program as a “revolution in human capital development.”
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To uphold transparency, a Disbursement Oversight Committee, comprising the Federal Ministry of Education, CBN, EFCC, and ICPC, has been instituted to monitor all approvals and disbursements. Institutions yet to onboard are urged to immediately request access by contacting slas@nelf.gov.ng.
Eligibility requirements include being a Nigerian citizen, enrollment in a public tertiary institution, and the provision of key credentials such as JAMB admission letter, NIN, BVN, and matriculation number. Repayment is deferred until two years after completing NYSC, with 10% of future salaries automatically deducted until the loan is fully repaid. Provisions for deferment and forgiveness exist in cases of unemployment, disability, or death.
Students are strongly advised to prepare accurate documents in advance and verify their institutional data to avoid rejection. Falsifying information can lead to severe penalties, including imprisonment.
With over 360,000 successful disbursements in less than a year, NELFUND’s promise to democratize education in Nigeria is no longer just a dream, it’s a reality. Interested students should act fast to take advantage of this life-changing opportunity and invest in their academic journey today.
Visit www.nelf.gov.ng now and begin your application. Your future starts here.
