Ahead of the formal opening of the Student Loan portal this Friday, the Nigeria Education Loan Fund has said it will commence with students in federal tertiary institutions.
This comes as the Fund has said only students whose institutions have uploaded their data on its dashboard would be eligible to apply.
Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Fund, Akintinde Sawyerr, stated this on Monday at a Pre-Application Sensitisation Press Conference in Abuja.
He said 1.2 million students from federal government-owned universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, and technical colleges would benefit from the first phase of the scheme.
While calling on students in federal tertiary institutions to visit the website, www.nelf.gov.ng to apply from May 24, the Managing Director said students in state universities and vocation skills centres would apply at a later date.
He said the requirements to apply include the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board admission letter, National Identity Number, Bank Verification Number, and a completed application form from its website.
“The loan application process has been streamlined to ensure easy access for all eligible students in federal tertiary institutions.
“Applicants can access online support to assist with any questions or concerns during the application process.
“We believe that education is a vital investment for the future. We envisage that the student loan initiative of Mr. President is a testament to this commitment,” he said.
One of the key features of the programme, he stressed, is the absence of physical contact between the loan applicant and NELFUND.
According to him, the portal provides a user-friendly interface for students to submit their loan applications conveniently.
He encouraged students in federal tertiary institutions to take advantage of this opportunity to secure the required financial assistance for their education, even as he urged applicants to submit their applications as soon as possible to ensure timely processing.
