Chief Executive Officer of NELFUND, Akintunde Sawyerr

The Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has announced the full digitisation of its Student Loan Application System (SLAS), marking a major milestone in the ongoing implementation of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s student loan initiative.

In a statement released on Wednesday by the Fund’s Director of Corporate Communications, Oseyemi Oluwatuyi, NELFUND said the upgrade is aimed at streamlining and accelerating the loan processing experience for both institutions and student 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 noted.

NELFUND urged institutions yet to onboard the platform to immediately send access requests to registration@nelf.gov.ng. Upon approval, schools will be able to access a real-time dashboard to verify submitted student data, track the status of applications, and facilitate quicker loan approvals.

“We urge all institutions to take immediate action in the interest of their students, as verification and data upload by the institutions are mandatory steps before final approval and disbursement can be completed,” Oluwatuyi added.

The digitisation of the student loan system is part of the broader implementation of the Access to Higher Education Act, a flagship education reform signed by President Tinubu barely a month after assuming office.

The Act established a legal framework for granting interest-free loans to Nigerian students from low-income backgrounds, creating the Nigerian Education Loan Fund to manage the scheme.

With the launch of the fully digital platform, the government aims to reduce bureaucratic delays and expand access to higher education through more efficient loan administration.