NELFUND Student Loan 2026/2027: Portal, Login, Eligibility, Upkeep and Repayment

Last updated: 9 October 2026

The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) gives students in public tertiary institutions interest-free loans for their school fees, plus a monthly upkeep allowance. This guide explains who can apply, how to apply and log in on the NELFUND portal, what the loan pays for, when upkeep is paid, and how repayment works after school.

NELFUND 2026/2027: Is the Portal Open?

Yes. Applications for the 2026/2027 session are open on portal.nelf.gov.ng. According to the Lagos State University (LASU) notice released on 28 September 2026, the window opened on 23 September 2026 and closes on 31 December 2026. Your school must first upload your records to NELFUND, so check with your institution’s NELFUND desk if the portal cannot find you.

What Is NELFUND?

NELFUND was set up under the Student Loans (Access to Higher Education) (Repeal and Re-enactment) Act, 2024, which President Bola Tinubu signed on 3 April 2024. The 2024 Act removed the old ₦500,000 family-income limit and the guarantor requirement, so any eligible student can apply regardless of family income. The Fund is led by its Managing Director, Akintunde Sawyerr.

The scheme has grown fast. By 29 September 2026, NELFUND had disbursed ₦372.62 billion: ₦192.89 billion in school fees paid to 319 institutions and ₦179.73 billion in upkeep paid to students.

Who Is Eligible for the NELFUND Student Loan?

• You are a Nigerian citizen.
• You are admitted to a public (federal or state) university, polytechnic, college of education or vocational institution. Private institutions are not covered.
• Your institution has uploaded your record (matric number, department and level) to NELFUND.
• Your school records match your JAMB data.

There is no income test. You must apply again every session, because loans and upkeep are tied to the session you are currently in.

What you need to apply

• National Identification Number (NIN)
• JAMB registration number
• Bank Verification Number (BVN) and a bank account in your own name
• Your matric number and a working email address

How to Apply on the NELFUND Portal

1. Go to portal.nelf.gov.ng and click Get Started.
2. Confirm that you are a Nigerian citizen.
3. Verify your school details, then verify with JAMB using your JAMB registration number.
4. Enter your NIN and BVN, and create your account with your email and a password.
5. Choose what you need: tuition only, or tuition and upkeep.
6. Check your details and submit. The portal says the whole process takes 15 to 30 minutes.

After you submit, your school confirms your details. Applications that are not verified by the institution can be cancelled, so follow up with your school’s NELFUND desk.

NELFUND Login and Password Reset

To log in, go to portal.nelf.gov.ng/auth/login and enter your email and password. If you forget your password, the login page offers two reset options: by email or by NIN. If you still cannot log in, open a ticket at nelfund.esupport.ng.

What Does the NELFUND Loan Cover?

• Tuition and institutional fees: paid directly to your school, not to you.
• Upkeep allowance: ₦20,000 per month, paid into your own bank account if you chose tuition and upkeep. In March 2026 NELFUND confirmed that the amount is still ₦20,000, not ₦25,000.

If you paid your school fees yourself and NELFUND later paid the school too, your school should refund you. In 2026 NELFUND began investigating institutions that had not refunded students, and it has announced plans for a digital tuition token to stop double payments.

When Does NELFUND Pay Upkeep?

Upkeep is paid monthly in batches, so students in the same school can be paid on different days. Payments have sometimes come late. The June and July 2026 payments were delayed by an upgrade of the payment platform and were cleared from 24 July 2026, when affected students received ₦40,000 for both months. On 1 October 2026 the Minister of Education said there was no delay in NELFUND payments.

If your upkeep has not arrived:

• Check that your bank account is in your own name and matches your BVN. Failed bank validation is a common cause of missed payments.
• Make sure your school has verified you for the current session.
• Open a support ticket at nelfund.esupport.ng with your details.

How NELFUND Loan Repayment Works

• The loan is interest-free.
• Repayment starts two years after you complete NYSC.
• If you are employed, your employer deducts 10% of your monthly income and sends it to the Fund.
• If you are self-employed, you pay 10% of your income yourself.
• If you are unemployed, you do not repay until you get a job.

NELFUND has said it can recover from defaulters through Global Standing Instruction on their bank accounts.

Beware of Fake NELFUND Portals

Applying for the NELFUND loan is free. NELFUND says its only official platforms are nelf.gov.ng and portal.nelf.gov.ng. Ignore look-alike websites, WhatsApp messages about “portal reopening” and anyone asking for money to process your loan. Report fake links to info@nelf.gov.ng.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the NELFUND 2026/2027 deadline?

31 December 2026, according to the window announced by LASU. Some schools set earlier internal deadlines, so check with yours.

Can private university students apply for NELFUND?

No. The loan covers students in public institutions only.

How much is the NELFUND upkeep allowance?

₦20,000 per month.

Do I need a guarantor for the NELFUND loan?

No. The 2024 Act removed the guarantor requirement.

Why can’t the portal find my school record?

Your institution has not uploaded or verified your details yet, or your school record does not match your JAMB data. Contact your school’s NELFUND desk.

Do I have to apply every year?

Yes. Apply for each new session to keep receiving tuition support and upkeep.

Just gained admission? Make sure you have accepted your offer on JAMB first — see our JAMB CAPS guide. For other funding options, see our scholarships section.

Disclaimer: tpi.com.ng is an independent information website and is not affiliated with NELFUND. Apply only on the official portal.