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Admissions Published: February 5, 2026 • By Emmanuel Iweh

NELFUND Extends Student Loan Deadline to February 27: A Lifeline for Indigent 2026 Aspirants

NELFUND Extends Student Loan Deadline to February 27: A Lifeline for Indigent 2026 Aspirants

"The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has extended its 2025/2026 application window to February 27, citing the need for greater inclusivity."

In a strategic move to accommodate more students for the 2026 academic session, the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has announced an extension of the application deadline from January 31 to February 27, 2026. This extension, announced by Managing Director Akintunde Sawyerr, is a response to widespread reports of technical bottlenecks on the NELFUND portal and the delayed processing of admission letters for the 2025/2026 transition batch. This development is high-priority for 2026 aspirants because the fund has now been integrated directly with the JAMB Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS). Our investigative analysis suggests that this extension will lead to a significant increase in the total number of applicants for the 2026 UTME, as students who previously viewed university education as financially unattainable are now rushing to register. This influx is expected to drive up the general cut-off marks for popular courses across federal universities. With NELFUND providing interest-free loans for both tuition and upkeep, the 'admissions-to-enrollment' ratio is expected to hit an all-time high in 2026. For candidates, this means that merely meeting the cut-off mark will no longer be enough; the competition will now shift to those who can secure early financial clearance. The investigation also reveals that NELFUND is prioritizing students in STEM and Healthcare sectors, meaning applicants in these fields who utilize the February window for their loan applications may see faster processing of their admission validation on CAPS. However, candidates are warned that the NELFUND portal requires a valid JAMB registration number, creating a symbiotic deadline between the loan application and the UTME registration. Students are advised to finalize their JAMB profile by mid-February to ensure their data reflects on the NELFUND server before the February 27 cutoff, as late applications may result in admission offers being revoked for non-payment of fees.

Official Source Reference: https://nannews.ng/nelfund-extends-application-deadline-to-feb-27

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