By FUNMILAYO ADEYEMI

The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has opened the application portal for the first phase of the student loan scheme, for students from federal institutions across the country.

The loan website whichh became active in the early hour of Friday had the schemes pilot phase opened to students of federal tertiary institutions.

The Media and Public Relations Lead of NELFUND, Mr Nasir Ayitogo, listed the step by step application for the loan.

Ayitogo listed the procedures as:

CREATING AN ACCOUNT

Step 1: visitwww.nelf.gov.ng

Step 2: Click on the Apply Now

Step 3: Click on Get Started

Step 4: Answer the questions on this page to continue by clicking on Yes, I am a Nigerian

Step 5: Verify your educational information. You would be required to select your school from a dropdown and provide your matric number to check if your school has uploaded your details.

Step 6: Click the Verify with JAMB and enter your JAMB details in the screen.

(Students whose NIN has not been registered with JAMB will have an input field where they can enter their NIN for validation.)

Step 7: Create an account by entering your Email address, Password and Confirm Password in the fields provided and click Create Account.

Step 8: Click the email verification link sent to your email.

This concludes the process of creating an account.

HOW TO COMPLETE YOUR PROFILE

After successful registration, log in by clicking the LOGIN button.

Step 1: Enter your email address and password to Login.

Step 2: Click on the Proceed to Contact Details button.

Step 3: Update contact details with the current information of your Phone Number, Full Residential Address, State of Residence and Local Government Area of Residence and click Proceed to Educational Details.

Step 4: Update your educational details by selecting your Higher Institution and inputting your Matric Number, then click Proceed to Account Details

Step 5: Verify your BVN by entering your BVN, select your Bank Name and enter your Account Number. Click Save Changes to complete your profile.

LOAN APPLICATION

Step 1: Click on the Request for Student Loan button at the top right of the screen on the home or loans page after logging into the application.

Step 2: If you want an upkeep loan, click the check box, and click Continue, if all you need is the institutional charge, click the Continue button.

Step 3: Upload supporting documents. The admission letter is compulsory which the Student ID and Institution Invoice are optional.

Click the checkbox for the policy and declaration and click Continue

Step 4: Read the loan overview and click the check boxes for both the Terms & Conditions and GSI Mandate then click Submit Application

Step 5: Click on the Loans button to view the status of your application.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that President Bola Tinubu enacted an initial version of the student loan policy in June 2023 to grant interest-free loans to students.

The scheme, whichh was supposed to have taken off in October 2023, was deferred until a re-enactment in April 2024.

However, NELFUND finally scheduled the opening of the loan application and issuance portal for May 24, which is now in operation. (NAN)