Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
Nursing students in Nigeria can now access financial support through the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), and thousands of students in nursing and midwifery institutions have already benefited from the scheme.
NELFUND has disclosed that it has disbursed more than ₦1.08 billion to 5,381 student nurses and midwives across 21 federal and state institutions.
The amount represents funding provided over three academic sessions. NELFUND disbursed ₦59.4 million in the 2023/2024 academic session, ₦205.8 million in 2024/2025 and ₦811.9 million in 2025/2026.
This means nursing students are not excluded from the federal student loan programme. However, being a nursing student does not automatically mean that an applicant will receive the loan. Students must meet the requirements of the scheme and attend an eligible institution whose student information can be verified through the NELFUND system.
Can Nursing Students Apply for NELFUND?
Yes. Nursing and midwifery students are among the students benefiting from NELFUND.
The Fund’s recent disbursement records specifically identify nursing and midwifery institutions among the beneficiaries of the student financing programme. The institutions receiving support are spread across different parts of Nigeria, including Oyo, Lagos, Ogun, Katsina, Kebbi, Cross River, Bauchi, Anambra, Kaduna, Taraba, Zamfara and the Federal Capital Territory.
The development is important for students in nursing schools because professional health training can involve tuition, institutional charges and other education-related expenses.
NELFUND’s student loan system provides for institutional fees and, where approved, an upkeep allowance. The exact amount available to an applicant depends on the amount verified and approved for the student’s institution and application.
How Much Has NELFUND Disbursed to Nursing Students?
NELFUND has provided more than ₦1.08 billion to nursing and midwifery students across 21 institutions.
The funding increased substantially over the three academic sessions covered by the latest figures:
| Academic session | Nursing and midwifery funding |
|---|---|
| 2023/2024 | ₦59.4 million |
| 2024/2025 | ₦205.8 million |
| 2025/2026 | ₦811.9 million |
| Total | More than ₦1.08 billion |
NELFUND said the 2025/2026 allocation alone was more than three times the combined amount provided during the previous two academic sessions.
The latest figures cover 5,381 student nurses and midwives across 21 federal and state institutions.
Nursing Schools Covered by NELFUND
NELFUND’s latest disclosure identified several nursing and midwifery institutions that have benefited from the student loan scheme.
They include:
- Oyo State College of Nursing
- Shehu Sule College of Nursing
- Lagos State College of Nursing
- Ogun State College of Nursing
- Katsina State College of Nursing and Midwifery
- Kebbi State College of Nursing
- Cross River State Colleges of Nursing
- Nursing institutions in Bauchi
- Nursing institutions in Anambra
- Nursing institutions in Kaduna
- Nursing institutions in Taraba
- Nursing institutions in Zamfara
- Nursing institutions in the Federal Capital Territory
The list above comes from NELFUND’s latest announcement and should not be treated as a complete list of every nursing institution that can participate in the scheme. NELFUND’s institutional verification process determines which students and institutions can be processed for funding.
Edo State College of Nursing Sciences
The Edo State College of Nursing Sciences in Benin City is another confirmed beneficiary of NELFUND funding.
In July 2026, NELFUND reported a ₦36.485 million disbursement covering 53 students at the institution for the 2025/2026 academic session.
This provides a clear example that students in a state-owned college of nursing can benefit from the NELFUND scheme when their institution and applications are verified.
What Does NELFUND Cover for Nursing Students?
NELFUND’s student loan terms provide for a loan amount based on the institutional fees and/or upkeep amount recorded and verified on the student’s account.
The Fund may pay institutional fees and may also provide upkeep support to an approved beneficiary. Its terms also state that it can decide to pay both institutional fees and upkeep or institutional fees without an upkeep allowance.
For a nursing student, this means the amount received should not be assumed to be a fixed amount for everyone.
Two students studying nursing at different institutions may have different approved amounts because their institutional charges and verified loan details can differ.
Students should therefore check the amount displayed on their own NELFUND application rather than relying on figures received by another student.
NELFUND for Nursing Students: Eligibility
A nursing student should first meet the general requirements for the NELFUND student loan scheme.
The application portal begins by asking applicants to confirm that they are Nigerian and then requires verification of their educational information and student status. The portal also provides for student verification through JAMB.
For nursing students, the important requirements include:
- Being a Nigerian student eligible for the NELFUND student loan scheme.
- Being enrolled in an eligible tertiary institution.
- Having educational and student information that can be verified.
- Providing the required identification and application information.
- Completing the required verification process.
- Applying through the official NELFUND student loan portal.
NELFUND’s privacy notice also confirms that its application process can involve information such as the applicant’s institution, matriculation or admission details, course, bank/payment details and supporting documents.
Does NELFUND Require a Nursing Student to Be in a University?
No. The recent disbursement records show that NELFUND support has reached students in nursing and midwifery colleges, not only university students.
For example, the Edo State College of Nursing Sciences received NELFUND funding covering 53 students for the 2025/2026 academic session. NELFUND’s September 2026 figures also listed several state nursing and midwifery colleges among the institutions whose students had benefited.
The important issue is not simply the name of the programme. The student’s institution and application must be eligible and verifiable under the NELFUND process.
How to Apply for NELFUND as a Nursing Student
Nursing students who want to apply should use the official NELFUND student loan portal.
NELFUND application portal: portal.nelf.gov.ng
The application process starts with registration and identity and educational verification.
Step 1: Open the NELFUND student loan portal
Go to the official NELFUND student loan portal and select the option to get started with the student loan application.
The portal currently identifies the programme as an interest-free loan and provides the application and repayment information for students.
Step 2: Confirm your Nigerian citizenship
The registration process asks applicants to confirm whether they are Nigerian.
Only applicants who meet the citizenship requirement should proceed with the application.
Step 3: Verify your educational information
NELFUND requires applicants to verify their educational information during registration.
This is particularly important for nursing students because the institution, programme and student records need to match the information used in the application.
Step 4: Verify your student status
The portal provides a student-status verification stage through JAMB.
Applicants should make sure their relevant educational information is correctly captured before completing the application.
Step 5: Complete the loan application
After completing the required verification, provide the information requested on your NELFUND account.
This can include institution and admission information, course details, bank/payment information and supporting documents where required.
Step 6: Check your application
After submitting the application, students should monitor their NELFUND account for updates.
Approval and disbursement are subject to verification and the availability and approval of the loan. NELFUND’s terms state that loan approval and disbursement are handled yearly, meaning an existing beneficiary should not assume that funding for another academic session is automatic.
What If Your Nursing School Is Not Showing on the NELFUND Portal?
If your nursing institution does not appear during the application process, do not select another school simply to complete the form.
The institution and student information used for the application should accurately reflect your actual school and programme.
NELFUND’s recent funding records show that the programme already covers a number of nursing and midwifery institutions, but the latest published list of beneficiaries should not be interpreted as a guarantee that every nursing school in Nigeria is currently participating.
Students whose institutions are not appearing should first confirm their school’s participation and student-verification status through the appropriate NELFUND support channel.
Can Nursing Students Get NELFUND Upkeep Allowance?
NELFUND’s student loan terms allow for an upkeep allowance in addition to institutional fees, depending on the approved application.
However, students should not assume that every nursing student will receive the same upkeep amount.
NELFUND states that the approved loan amount is based on the institutional fees and/or upkeep fields shown on the student’s account. The Fund also reserves the right to pay both institutional fees and upkeep or institutional fees without upkeep.
This is why the amount displayed on an individual student’s NELFUND account is more relevant than a general figure circulating online.
Is the NELFUND Nursing Student Loan Free?
NELFUND describes the student loan programme as an interest-free loan.
However, interest-free does not mean it is a grant.
The money is a loan and beneficiaries are expected to repay it under the terms of the programme.
Students should therefore read the loan terms before accepting the funding.
When Does a Nursing Student Start Repaying NELFUND?
Repayment depends on the beneficiary’s circumstances after school.
NELFUND’s current terms state that a beneficiary who participates in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) begins repayment two years after completing NYSC.
The terms also state that once a beneficiary becomes employed, the employment information should be updated on the student’s loan account and 10% of monthly salary may be deducted directly at source for repayment.
For self-employed beneficiaries, NELFUND’s terms require them to update their business details after becoming self-employed.
Nursing students should therefore understand that accepting the loan creates a repayment obligation after graduation and the applicable repayment period.
What Nursing Students Should Check Before Applying
Before submitting a NELFUND application, nursing students should check that:
- Their school information is correct.
- Their student records can be verified.
- Their name and other personal details are consistent across the required records.
- Their JAMB information can be verified where applicable.
- They are applying for their actual institution and programme.
- They understand the difference between institutional-fee support and upkeep.
- They understand that the money is a loan and must be repaid.
- They use only the official NELFUND portal for their application.
Students should also keep their application details and relevant records after submitting the form. This can make it easier to track the application and resolve verification issues if they arise.
NELFUND for Nursing Students: What the Latest Figures Show
The latest NELFUND figures confirm that nursing and midwifery students are already receiving support through the federal student loan scheme.
More than 5,381 students across 21 nursing and midwifery institutions have benefited from over ₦1.08 billion, with the largest annual increase recorded in the 2025/2026 academic session.
The figures also show that the scheme is reaching state-owned nursing colleges as well as other nursing and midwifery institutions.
For students considering the loan, the main point is to check their own institution and application status rather than assuming that every nursing school has exactly the same arrangement.
If your nursing school is eligible and your student information can be verified, you can proceed with the NELFUND application through the official portal.
Official NELFUND Student Loan Portal: Apply through portal.nelf.gov.ng
