Nursing and midwifery students in Nigeria can access funding through the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), but being enrolled in a nursing programme does not automatically qualify a student for the loan.
NELFUND has confirmed that 5,381 student nurses and midwives across 21 federal and state institutions have benefited from more than ₦1.08 billion under its student financing programme.
The funding covers three academic sessions and has increased considerably during that period. NELFUND disbursed ₦59.4 million to nursing and midwifery students in 2023/2024, ₦205.8 million in 2024/2025 and ₦811.9 million in 2025/2026.
For students currently studying nursing or midwifery, the key question is not simply whether NELFUND supports nursing students. It is whether your school is eligible, your student information can be verified and you meet the requirements for the loan.
Can nursing students apply for NELFUND?
Yes. Nursing and midwifery students are already among the beneficiaries of NELFUND funding.
The Fund’s latest figures cover students studying in institutions across several parts of Nigeria, including Oyo, Lagos, Ogun, Katsina, Kebbi, Cross River, Bauchi, Anambra, Kaduna, Taraba, Zamfara and the Federal Capital Territory.
The fact that NELFUND has funded students in nursing colleges is also important for applicants who are not studying nursing at a university. The recent beneficiaries include students in state-owned nursing and midwifery institutions.
However, not every nursing student should assume they will automatically receive NELFUND funding. The student’s institution and academic information must be eligible and verifiable under the Fund’s process.
How much has NELFUND disbursed to nursing students?
NELFUND said it has disbursed more than ₦1.08 billion to 5,381 student nurses and midwives across 21 institutions.
The funding increased as follows:
- 2023/2024: ₦59.4 million
- 2024/2025: ₦205.8 million
- 2025/2026: ₦811.9 million
The ₦811.9 million recorded in 2025/2026 represents the largest amount among the three academic sessions.
It is important to understand that the ₦1.08 billion is the combined amount disbursed to the reported beneficiaries. It is not a fixed ₦1.08 billion pool that each nursing student can apply for, and it does not mean that every beneficiary received the same amount.
The amount approved for an individual student depends on the fees and/or upkeep amount verified for that student’s application.
Which nursing schools are covered by NELFUND?
NELFUND’s latest announcement identified beneficiaries across 21 federal and state institutions.
The institutions and locations mentioned in reports on the disbursement include nursing and midwifery schools in:
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.
Some of the institutions identified 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 and Cross River State nursing institutions.
This list should not be treated as a complete list of every nursing school that can participate in NELFUND.
NELFUND’s latest announcement was about the institutions whose students had benefited from the reported disbursements. It does not mean that every nursing school not mentioned is permanently excluded from the scheme.
If your school is not on the list above, check whether the institution has been onboarded and whether your student record is available for verification before concluding that you cannot apply.
Can students in state nursing colleges get NELFUND?
Yes. The reported beneficiaries show that NELFUND funding is reaching students in state-owned nursing and midwifery institutions, not just universities.
For example, Edo State College of Nursing Sciences in Benin City was reported as receiving ₦36.485 million for 53 students for the 2025/2026 academic session.
This is useful for students who may have assumed that the federal student loan is only available to university undergraduates.
The important factor is whether the student’s institution and records meet NELFUND’s requirements.
What does NELFUND cover for nursing students?
NELFUND’s student loan is not based on one standard amount for all beneficiaries.
The Fund’s terms provide for loan support based on the institutional fees and/or upkeep amount verified on the student’s account.
This means two nursing students can receive different approved amounts.
For example, if two students attend different institutions with different approved institutional charges, the amount recorded for their respective loan applications may not be the same.
NELFUND’s terms also provide for situations where a student receives institutional-fee support with upkeep, or institutional-fee support without upkeep.
Students should therefore check the amount approved on their own account instead of using another student’s payment as a guide.
NELFUND eligibility for nursing students
A nursing student must meet the general requirements of the NELFUND student loan scheme.
The official NELFUND registration process requires applicants to confirm their Nigerian citizenship and go through educational and student-status verification. The process also uses JAMB information for student verification.
Before applying, a nursing student should make sure that:
- They meet the Nigerian citizenship requirement.
- They are enrolled in an eligible institution.
- Their student information can be verified.
- Their admission and educational records are accurate.
- The institution and programme details supplied are correct.
- They can provide the information and documents requested during the application.
- They complete the required verification stages.
NELFUND also collects information relating to the student’s institution, admission or matriculation details, course, payment information and other information required to process the loan.
Does a nursing student have to attend a university?
No.
NELFUND’s reported beneficiaries include students in nursing and midwifery colleges, showing that students do not have to be enrolled in a conventional university nursing programme before they can be considered.
Students in eligible colleges should still verify their institution’s participation rather than assuming that every college of nursing has been onboarded.
How to apply for NELFUND as a nursing student
Nursing students who want to apply should use the official NELFUND Student Loan Portal.
Official application portal: https://portal.nelf.gov.ng/auth/welcome
The process involves registration and verification before the loan application can be completed.
1. Open the NELFUND portal
Go to the official NELFUND Student Loan Portal and begin the registration process.
Avoid using links sent through WhatsApp groups, Facebook pages or unofficial websites, particularly where you are asked to provide sensitive personal or banking information.
2. Confirm your citizenship
The registration process requires applicants to confirm that they are Nigerian.
Only applicants who meet this requirement should continue with the registration.
3. Verify your educational information
You will be asked to provide and verify your educational information.
As a nursing student, make sure the institution and programme details you submit correspond with your actual school records.
4. Complete student-status verification
NELFUND’s registration process includes student-status verification through JAMB.
If your information does not match the records used for verification, resolve the issue through the appropriate channel instead of entering incorrect information.
5. Complete the loan application
After the required verification stages, continue with the application and provide the information requested by NELFUND.
This may include your institution and admission details, course information, payment or bank details and supporting documents where required.
6. Submit and monitor your application
Review the information before submitting the application.
After submission, continue checking your NELFUND account for updates on verification, approval and disbursement.
Submitting an application does not mean that the loan has already been approved.
What if my nursing school is not showing on NELFUND?
Do not select another school simply because your institution is not appearing on the portal.
Your application should contain your actual school and programme information.
If your institution is missing or your student information cannot be verified, first check with your school to determine whether its records have been submitted or whether there is an issue with your student information.
You can also contact NELFUND through its official support channels for assistance.
This is particularly important because the latest list of nursing institutions that have received funding should not be confused with a complete list of every institution currently eligible to participate.
Can nursing students get NELFUND upkeep?
Potentially, yes, depending on the approved loan arrangement.
NELFUND’s terms allow for an upkeep component in addition to institutional-fee support. However, students should not assume that every beneficiary will receive the same upkeep amount or that upkeep will automatically be included.
The amount and type of support are based on the information verified and approved for the individual student.
Check your NELFUND account for the amount approved for you.
Is NELFUND a grant for nursing students?
No.
NELFUND describes the student financing scheme as an interest-free loan.
That distinction matters because the money is not a grant that students can keep without repayment. A beneficiary is expected to repay the loan according to NELFUND’s applicable terms.
Students should read the loan terms carefully before accepting the funding.
When will a nursing student repay NELFUND?
NELFUND’s current terms state that beneficiaries who participate in NYSC begin repayment two years after completing NYSC.
The terms also state that once a beneficiary becomes employed, their employment information should be updated and 10% of monthly salary may be deducted at source towards repayment.
There are separate requirements for beneficiaries who become self-employed.
This means nursing students should consider the repayment obligation before accepting the loan, even though the facility is interest-free.
What nursing students should know before applying
The most important thing is to avoid assuming that the recent ₦1.08 billion disbursement means every nursing student is entitled to the same funding.
NELFUND has confirmed that thousands of nursing and midwifery students have benefited, but eligibility is still tied to the individual student’s circumstances and the institution’s participation in the scheme.
Before applying, make sure your school information is correct, your student records can be verified and you understand that the funding is a loan that must eventually be repaid.
Also, use only the official NELFUND platform when submitting an application. Do not pay individuals who claim they can guarantee approval or increase the amount of your loan.
Official NELFUND Student Loan Portal: https://portal.nelf.gov.ng/auth/welcome
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