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NELFUND Disburses ₦183.8 Billion, Extends Student Loan Application Deadline.
The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has extended the deadline for its Student Loan Application Portal following a surge in interest nationwide, fueled by its ongoing sensitisation campaign.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The announcement comes just days after the Fund had reminded applicants that the portal was initially set to close on February 27, 2026.
In a statement issued on Monday by its Director of Strategic Communications, Oseyemi Oluwatuyi, the agency explained that the extension was prompted by overwhelming feedback and increased participation from students and stakeholders across the country.
According to the statement, the decision became necessary due to the sharp rise in awareness and applications recorded nationwide.
“The Nigerian Education Loan Fund has approved an extension of its Student Loan Application Portal following a significant increase in awareness and nationwide demand generated by its ongoing sensitisation campaign,” the statement said.
“The Fund has granted additional days to allow all eligible students sufficient time to complete their applications, pending further management decisions and updates.”
NELFUND noted that the extension would benefit students who need more time to finalise their applications, prospective applicants who only recently became aware of the scheme, institutions that have just begun the 2025/2026 academic session, and schools yet to forward verified student data.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NELFUND, Akintunde Sawyerr, stated that the move is in line with the Fund’s mission to broaden access to tertiary education funding.
“Our outreach efforts across the six geopolitical zones have significantly boosted awareness and participation,” Sawyerr said.
“In keeping with our mandate to widen access to higher education financing, we have approved this extension to ensure every eligible student has a fair opportunity to apply.”
He reaffirmed the Fund’s dedication to transparency, accountability, and the delivery of sustainable student financing solutions designed to eliminate financial obstacles to higher education.
As of the portal’s initial closing date on Friday, NELFUND revealed it had received 1.69 million applications and disbursed ₦183.8 billion to successful applicants.
The agency advised institutions yet to commence the 2025/2026 academic year to formally request an extension and submit their approved academic calendars.
Students were also encouraged to complete their applications through the official portal before the revised deadline.
NELFUND was established to oversee the Nigeria Student Loan Scheme, signed into law by President Bola Tinubu in April 2024.
Under the programme, the Federal Government provides interest-free loans to students in public tertiary institutions to cover tuition fees and living expenses.
Applications opened in May 2024 as part of broader efforts to cushion the impact of rising education costs, especially for students from low-income families.
Beneficiaries are required to repay the loans after graduation and once they secure employment.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has revealed that his push for an opposition coalition was initially rejected by members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Atiku made the disclosure during an interview on Arise Television on Wednesday, where he reflected on events following the PDP’s defeat in the 2023 presidential election. According to him, he warned party leaders after the election that the PDP could struggle politically without forming alliances with other opposition forces. “To be honest, I was one of the major initiators of this coalition. After the PDP lost the last election, I told the party clearly that I did not see a future for the PDP without a coalition,” he said. Atiku said his advice was rejected at the time, despite his conviction that Nigeria’s political history had shown the importance of alliances. “They disagreed with me then. I have studied Nigeria’s political transition over the years and saw how previous alliances worked, so it was not difficult for me to foresee this,” he stated. The former vice president added that his support for coalition politics was also influenced by his desire to encourage the emergence of younger leaders he believes are vital to Nigeria’s future. “I saw some of these younger politicians as the future leaders of this country, and I felt it was my duty to point that out,” he said. However, Atiku claimed the resistance he encountered within the party was driven more by personal feelings than by disagreement over the substance of his proposal. “They disagreed with me simply because they did not want to see my face, not because of what I was suggesting,” he said. Atiku added that recent political developments have now vindicated his position on the need for a broad opposition alliance ahead of future elections.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has said the African Democratic Congress (ADC) will first pursue a consensus arrangement before considering a primary election for its 2027 presidential ticket.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Atiku made this known during an interview on Arise Television on Wednesday while discussing the party’s leadership and strategy ahead of the next general election.
He said he is open to backing a consensus candidate if that becomes the party’s collective decision, stressing that such support should not be interpreted as stepping aside.
“It is not about stepping aside, but whether I am willing to support, and yes, I will,” Atiku said.
According to him, the ADC’s first priority is to build internal unity and reach an agreement among stakeholders before considering a competitive primary process.
“Our first option will be to work out a consensus. If that doesn’t happen, then of course we will explore other options. And yes, I will support whoever eventually emerges,” he stated.
Atiku also expressed confidence in the political experience within the party, saying he believes a consensus is achievable and may make a full-scale primary contest unnecessary.
“That remains our preferred path. We will go for primaries if consensus fails, but I honestly do not expect it to get to that stage because we are dealing with mature and experienced politicians,” he added.
His comments come amid growing political consultations and coalition talks as parties begin to position themselves ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has said the opposition coalition under the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has significantly strengthened his chances of winning the 2027 presidential election.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Atiku made the remarks during an interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time programme on Wednesday. Speaking on what makes his latest presidential bid different from previous attempts, Atiku said the ADC coalition brings together key political figures from across major parties, including the APC, PDP and Labour Party. He described the alliance as a broader and more strategic political arrangement ahead of the 2027 general elections. According to him, the coalition has created a stronger platform that improves his prospects. “Now, we have a broader coalition — a combination of APC, PDP and LP — which gives me a better chance of becoming president in 2027,” he said. Atiku also noted that the coalition reflects both experience and generational inclusion, which he said shows a clear succession plan. “You see people of my generation, and you see younger people coming behind us, so you can clearly see a succession pattern,” he added. Meanwhile, Atiku described former President Goodluck Jonathan as a decent but inexperienced leader. According to him, Jonathan’s lack of experience contributed to shortcomings in governance and played a role in his defeat in the 2015 presidential election. “I know Goodluck Jonathan very well. He is a decent young man, but he was also inexperienced, and that contributed to his failure in managing the affairs of the country,” Atiku said. He made the remarks while stressing the need for experienced and capable leadership in Nigeria.
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