Scholarships, Bursaries and Student Loans in Nigeria

NELFUND: the federal student loan

The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) launched in 2024 as the federal government's interest-free loan scheme for students in public universities, polytechnics and colleges of education. The loan has two parts: an institutional charge payment made directly to your school, and a monthly upkeep allowance paid into your personal bank account. NELFUND confirmed in March 2026 that the upkeep allowance stands at 20,000 NGN a month, despite reports circulating of an increase, according to Punch Nigeria . Repayment does not start immediately after graduation. It begins two years after you complete the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), giving you time to find work first.

Who qualifies for NELFUND

• Nigerian citizenship

• Enrolment as a full-time student in a public tertiary institution

• Minimum age of 18

• A valid National Identification Number (NIN) and Bank Verification Number (BVN)

Part-time students generally fall outside the scheme, since NELFUND targets full-time enrolment. Apply through the official NELFUND portal, registering with your email and using your JAMB registration number if you are a fresh student, or your matric number if you already have one. NELFUND opens its application window once a session, and the 2025/2026 window opened in October 2025 and closed in February 2026, so watch for the equivalent window each new session and apply as soon as it opens rather than close to the deadline.

State bursaries

Separate from NELFUND, many state governments run their own bursary schemes for indigenes of that state studying at any recognised tertiary institution, often through a state scholarship board or ministry of education. These schemes vary widely in amount, frequency and application process from state to state, and some pay irregularly depending on the state's budget in a given year. Check your own state's scholarship board or ministry of education website each session for open bursary applications, and apply with your state of origin documentation ready, since eligibility almost always requires proof of indigeneship.

Sector and corporate scholarships

Nigeria's oil and gas sector funds some of the country's most established scholarship schemes for students in relevant courses. The Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) runs an in-country scholarship for undergraduate and postgraduate students studying oil, gas and allied engineering courses, requiring a minimum of five O'level credits including Mathematics and English for undergraduate applicants, and at least a second class upper degree for postgraduate applicants, according to a notice from the University of Lagos . PTDF opens its scholarship window on its own annual cycle, so check the PTDF website or your university's scholarship office for the current session's dates.

Oil companies operating in Nigeria, including joint ventures with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC), also run named undergraduate scholarship schemes open to students across the country, not limited to a single host community. These run on their own annual cycles with their own eligibility rules, so check each scheme's specific requirements rather than assuming they match NELFUND or PTDF criteria.

How to combine funding sources

NELFUND, a state bursary and a sector scholarship are not mutually exclusive in every case, though some corporate schemes exclude students who already hold another major award, so read each scheme's terms before applying to more than one. Start with NELFUND if you study at a public institution, since it covers both fees and living costs. Layer in your state bursary as a second source, and treat sector scholarships like PTDF as a strong option if your course fits their focus area. Apply the moment each scheme opens its window, since late applications risk missing the cycle entirely.