The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has raised the alarm over a forged letter spreading rapidly across social media platforms. The document, which falsely announces a nationwide suspension of student loan disbursements, has been dismissed by NELFUND as entirely fabricated and not representative of its official position.
The letter in question is addressed to the Bursar and Finance Officer of Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology (ADUST), Wudil, Kano State. It carries the logos of both The Presidency and NELFUND, and is attributed to a certain “Dr. Akintunde Adebayo,” identified as Director of Operations. NELFUND has stated clearly that no such letter was issued from its office, and that the document is a deliberate attempt to mislead the public.
NELFUND Reaffirms Commitment to Ongoing Disbursements
NELFUND has reassured students, institutions, and the general public that its loan disbursement programme is running without interruption. The agency has stressed that it remains dedicated to fulfilling its mandate of providing accessible and timely financial support to eligible Nigerian students in public tertiary institutions.
This latest incident is part of a pattern of misinformation that has repeatedly targeted the scheme since its inception. NELFUND has on previous occasions warned the public against fake websites, fraudulent portals, and impersonation schemes designed to exploit unsuspecting students.
In a separate but related development on April 18, 2026, NELFUND also addressed concerns surrounding loan disbursements at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH). The agency cautioned institutions against making unverified public statements about the scheme, noting that inaccurate messaging generates needless anxiety among students and weakens public confidence in a programme that is delivering real results.
Active Disbursements Contradict the Fake Letter’s Claims
The timing of the fake letter is particularly telling, given that NELFUND has been in an active phase of disbursements across the country during the 2025/2026 academic session. The university singled out in the forged letter is, in fact, among the institutions that have already received funds.
In February 2026, NELFUND disbursed over ₦314 million to nearly 3,900 students of Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology, Wudil, covering tuition and institutional charges for the current academic year. That disbursement was part of a broader release that also benefited Ekiti State University and other institutions nationwide.
Looking at the broader picture, NELFUND has disbursed well over ₦183 billion to close to one million student beneficiaries spread across 265 institutions since the programme launched. Applications for the 2025/2026 session attracted over 1.7 million submissions, reflecting the enormous scale of student engagement with the scheme. Disbursements have been split between direct payments to institutions for tuition and transfers to individual student accounts for upkeep allowances.
How to Spot Fake NELFUND Communications and Stay Informed
The spread of forged government documents is a serious concern, particularly when they target vulnerable students whose academic futures depend on timely financial support. A single false announcement can trigger widespread panic, lead to uninformed decisions, and damage the credibility of a nationally important initiative.
Students and institutions can protect themselves by keeping the following in mind:
- Use only the official portal: All NELFUND-related applications, updates, and communications are processed exclusively through the government portal at https://www.nelf.gov.ng. No third-party platform is authorised to act on NELFUND’s behalf.
- Follow verified accounts: NELFUND’s official handle on X (formerly Twitter) is @NELFUND. Any announcement not traceable to this account or the official website should be treated with suspicion.
- Never pay for access: The application process is entirely free. Any request for payment in exchange for loan facilitation or faster processing is a scam.
- Report suspicious content: Members of the public who come across fake NELFUND documents or websites are encouraged to report them directly to the agency through its official communication channels.
NELFUND has consistently maintained that all stakeholders; students, institutions, and the public must engage only with verified information. As the scheme continues to expand its reach and impact across Nigeria’s higher education landscape, protecting its integrity from deliberate misinformation remains a shared responsibility.
