NELFUND has directed tertiary institutions to upload students’ records ahead of the 2025/2026 loan portal opening.
It said only verified students will qualify to access the government’s education loan scheme.
The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has urged all accredited tertiary institutions across the country to update and upload their students’ records ahead of the opening of the student loan portal for the 2025/2026 academic session.
The agency directed institutions to upload details of both returning and newly admitted students on the NELFUND Student Verification Portal. In a statement released by its Director of Strategic Communications, Oseyemi Oluwatuyi, NELFUND explained that only students whose records have been properly uploaded and verified through their schools will be eligible to access the loan scheme.
According to Oluwatuyi, the verification exercise is intended to ensure that the loan application process runs smoothly once the portal officially opens. She advised institutions to take the task seriously and make sure that every student’s information is correctly entered using a valid admission number or any other unique identifier that can be easily verified.
The agency said this proactive step will help reduce delays and technical challenges when students begin applying for the loans. It also restated its commitment to ensuring that no eligible Nigerian student is denied access to education due to financial difficulties.
Meanwhile, former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has praised President Bola Tinubu for prioritizing education through initiatives such as NELFUND.
Speaking at the Federal University of Lokoja during a public lecture titled “Empowering the Future Generation: The Founders’ Vision and Legacy,” Dogara described the student loan scheme as a lifeline for many students whose education would have been interrupted by financial hardship.
He added that education remains the strongest tool for fighting poverty and unlocking human potential, noting that investing in knowledge is a vital step toward national growth and development.
