NELFUND instructs schools to upload student details on SLAS before loans can be released
The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has ordered all approved tertiary institutions to confirm and submit student information on the Student Loan Application System (SLAS).
It stated that student loans which have been approved will not be disbursed unless this important step is completed.
This announcement was made in a post shared on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, via NELFUND’s official X account, previously known as Twitter.
This directive comes in the wake of recent improvements to the SLAS platform, which has now been entirely digitised to make loan processing faster and more transparent for schools and applicants.
“The Student Loan Application System (SLAS) has now been fully digitised to streamline and accelerate the student loan processing experience for institutions and applicants.
“With this upgrade, all accredited institutions are now required to request access to SLAS to verify and upload student data related to loan applications. This is a critical step that ensures the timely processing and disbursement of approved student loans,” the statement read in part.
NELFUND mentioned that any school not yet integrated into the system should promptly email registration@nelf.gov.ng to request access.
Once given access, schools will be able to confirm students’ submitted information, monitor loan applications using a live dashboard, and follow the progress of each loan. The statement stressed that data confirmation and upload by institutions are necessary before any loan is finally approved or disbursed. NELFUND encouraged schools to take immediate action for the benefit of their students.
NELFUND also addressed students whose loan application shows the status “Verified.” It explained that although this status confirms that the first round of checks is complete, the loan will not be disbursed until institutions complete data upload and confirmation on SLAS.
After that step is fulfilled, the loan status will change to “Disbursed,” signifying that fee payments have been processed.
The agency appreciated both institutions and students for their support and patience, saying that the digitisation of SLAS would bring more clarity, efficiency, and accountability to the loan process.
NELFUND advised all concerned parties to contact them for more details via email at info@nelf.gov.ng or through their official social media handles on X (@nelfund), Instagram (@nelfund), and Facebook/LinkedIn (Nigerian Education Loan Fund – NELFUND).
Between the launch of its loan platform on May 24, 2024, and May 2025, the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) disbursed a total of N56.85 billion in loans to 298,124 students across 198 tertiary institutions.
In a bid to expand access, NELFUND plans to include vocational and skill-based training centres in the loan programme, beginning with a pilot rollout in Enugu State expected between the end of June and the middle of July 2025.
This decision followed a public engagement session in Enugu where NELFUND representatives met with officials from the state.
Managing Director Akintunde Sawyerr said the expansion would support trades like fashion design and other vocational skills. He added that Enugu was selected because of its preparedness and solid infrastructure, which NELFUND considered among the most impressive it had reviewed.
To make the process easier, NELFUND is also working on merging the application system with school portals so that students can apply directly through their institutions instead of using the fund’s website.
