The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has introduced a new directive that ties upkeep loan disbursements strictly to each institution’s academic calendar.
This was confirmed in Abuja by the Fund’s Director of Strategic Communications, Mrs. Oseyemi Oluwatuyi, who explained that upkeep support would now only apply to the ongoing academic session of a student.
“In line with this directive, students shall only be entitled to upkeep loans for their current academic session. Upon the conclusion of an institution’s academic year, upkeep payments for that session shall automatically cease,” Oluwatuyi said.
She further clarified that once students move into a new session, they must reapply to access both tuition and upkeep loans for the year ahead.
To align with this directive, NELFUND has upgraded its digital platform to reflect session-based disbursements.
“To ensure accuracy and transparency, the NELFUND loan portal is being automated to reflect this adjustment. The portal will henceforth display only the upkeep loans that have been collected by each student within the relevant session,” she noted.
Oluwatuyi also urged higher institutions to upload their academic calendars promptly so that students can access their full entitlements without disruption.
“NELFUND remains committed to its mandate of providing accessible, transparent, and efficient loan support to Nigerian students, and counts on the cooperation of all stakeholders in the smooth implementation of this directive,” she added.
The agency also reminded beneficiaries and institutions to make inquiries via its official email, social media accounts, and online platforms.
Beyond academic loans, NELFUND is widening its scope. It recently launched a pilot loan program for vocational and technical training in Enugu between June and July 2025, targeting youths interested in hands-on skills. The Fund has also announced plans for a centralised job portal by 2026 to connect graduates with opportunities both locally and abroad.
