By FUNMILAYO ADEYEMI

The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has approved a final reopening for a period of 48 hours to enable tertiary institutions yet to complete their student verification exercise to do so.

This is contained in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja on Friday by Mrs. Oseyemi Oluwatuyi, Director, Strategic Communications of the Fund.

Oluwatuyi said the portal would be accessible from 12:00 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 12, to 12:00 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 14.

The extension, she said was intended to ensure that all eligible students were duly captured and verified by their respective institutions as part of the ongoing 2024/2025 NELFUND loan application process.

“Institutions are strongly advised to make full use of this final opportunity.

“Failure to complete the verification process within the stipulated period will result in the affected institutions forfeiting participation in the current loan cycle.

“A situation that will regrettably disadvantage their students who are the ultimate beneficiaries of the loan scheme,” she said.

She added that in the interest of transparency and accountability, the list of defaulting institutions would be published.

Oluwatuyi reiterated the Fund’s commitment to fostering equitable access to higher education through the efficient, transparent, and inclusive management of the scheme. (NAN)