UNIOSUN Students Secure NELFUND Loan in Western Nigeria 2026 for Tuition and Living Costs
Officials, meanwhile, say disbursement is in process and students that have been verified since April and May are still getting notified. NELFUND expects to clear the backlog for Western Nigeria by July.
How UNIOSUN Students Applied for the NELFUND Loan
The process starts on the NELFUND portal. Students first verify their admission with JAMB. Next, they upload school ID and BVN for identity checks.
Many UNIOSUN applicants used campus CBT centres in Osogbo and Ikire for help. The centres provided free internet and scanning services. At the same time, NELFUNDhelp desk was set up in school by Directorate of Student Affairs. The desk operated from Monday to Friday from 8a.m to 4p.m from March until the end of April.
Student union officers also provided a step-by-step procedure on WhatsApp groups. Guides on how to do it with screenshots and error solutions were available. As a result, first-time applicants made fewer mistakes during submission.
“We saw delays when names on JAMB did not match NIN records,” said Dr. Adebayo Olanrewaju, UNIOSUN’s Dean of Student Affairs. “So we advised students to update their details before applying.” The university also worked with NIMC officials to host a two-day NIN correction exercise in March.
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Eligibility for NELFUND Loan in Western Nigeria 2026
The loan covers public tertiary institutions only. To qualify, students must be Nigerian. Their family income must be less than ₦500,000 per year.
But NELFUND also verifies the academic status of candidates. Candidates must maintain a minimum CGPA of 2.0. Candidates seeking for fresh admission to schools in Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti are also eligible.
The funds are disbursed directly to schools, students also receive a monthly stipen of 20,000. The stipen assists students schooling in expensive environments like Lagos and Ibadan, and are also used to fund accommodation and feeding of UNIOSUN students in Osogbo.
Furthermore, final year students can apply. But they must show proof that their programme extends beyond the repayment grace period. NELFUND said this rule prevents loan default.
Challenges Faced During the Application
In addition, students complained about slow email responses. NELFUND has since opened a 24-hour call centre. The centre handles queries from all six South West states.
Repayment Rules Students Must Know
Repayment starts two years after NYSC. The law says 10% of a beneficiary’s monthly salary will be deducted. However, unemployed graduates will not pay until they get jobs.
NELFUND told the Western Nigeria that it works with the Federal Inland Revenue Service to track employment. Self-employed beneficiaries, on their part are required to pay 10% monthly on their profit.
The agency revealed plans to introduce an app for self-reporting, by August 2026. Students loan defaulters face sanction under the student loan act.
However NELFUND revealed plans to focus on repayment, rather than the prosecution of defaulting students. Students who go back to study can also be granted a moratorium on repayment of loans
What This Means for Western Nigeria Education
The NELFUND loan in Western Nigeria 2026 reduces dropout rates linked to fees. Data from the National Bureau of Statistics shows Osun had a 12% tertiary dropout rate in 2024. Stakeholders say the loan could cut that figure to below 7% by 2027.
Private schools are not covered. So, students at institutions in Ogun and Lagos outside the federal and state system must seek other funding. Still, public universities across the South West have seen more stable enrolment this session.
Lagos State University and University of Ibadan also recorded high application numbers. But UNIOSUN’s support system made its process smoother, analysts said. The school’s model is now being studied by other institutions in Ondo and Ekiti.
For more on federal education funding, visit the Nigerian Education Loan Fund official portal.
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