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NELFUND Student Loan Refunds: Full List of Schools Paying Students and How to Check Status
NELFUND student loan refunds are ongoing in some schools for students who paid tuition before their institutions later received NELFUND payments.
- NELFUND student loan refunds are ongoing in some schools for students who paid tuition before their institutions later received NELFUND payments.

Here is the latest list, how to check your status, and what affected students should do.
Many Nigerian students are asking how to get their NELFUND student loan refunds after paying school fees before the Nigerian Education Loan Fund later disbursed tuition payments to their institutions.
The refund issue affects students who paid tuition, levies or school charges personally before NELFUND later paid the same institutional fees on their behalf.
In such cases, the student may be entitled to a refund from the school, depending on the institution’s records and the student’s payment status.
NELFUND has already warned schools against delaying refunds to eligible students. The Fund also criticised arbitrary fee increases and urged institutions to protect students from double payment burdens.
Why Are NELFUND Refunds Being Paid?
NELFUND pays approved institutional fees directly to schools, while upkeep allowance is paid to the student’s personal account.
The refund problem happens when:
- A student pays school fees personally.
- The student later gets NELFUND approval.
- NELFUND pays the same school fees to the institution.
- The school now has to refund the student’s earlier payment.
This is why affected students are being told to check with their school bursary, NELFUND desk office or refund portal.
Schools Confirmed to Be Processing or Paying NELFUND Refunds
Based on latest public reports, the following schools have either confirmed payment, launched refund processes, or said refunds are ongoing:
School Latest Refund Status University of Calabar, UNICAL Confirmed refund to 1,089 students across nine batches; more applications pending Ekiti State University, EKSU Says refunds are ongoing in batches University of Ibadan, UI Has a NELFUND refund portal for eligible students Bayero University Kano, BUK Published a notice on NELFUND refund exercise for 2024/2025 academic session
UNICAL NELFUND Refund Update
The University of Calabar said it has refunded 1,089 students in nine batches.
According to the school’s NELFUND desk, the refund process is ongoing, while more than 2,000 additional applications are awaiting processing through an automated portal.
UNICAL also said students no longer need to visit offices or pay anyone to process the refund, as applications can be submitted online.
EKSU NELFUND Refund Update
Ekiti State University said it has not withheld refunds from eligible students.
The institution said refund payments are being processed in batches and that some outstanding cases involve issues with students’ NELFUND dashboard, payment records or bank details.
Affected EKSU students were advised to visit the school’s NELFUND Desk Office or Bursary Department for verification.
UI NELFUND Refund Portal
The University of Ibadan has a dedicated NELFUND Loan Refund Portal where students can apply for refunds or check the status of existing applications.
The UI portal requires students to provide their matric number and NELFUND tracking ID.
Students may also need to upload proof of payment and provide bank account details.
NANS List of 39 Institutions Accused of Delaying NELFUND Refunds
The National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, earlier listed 39 tertiary institutions it said had yet to refund students after receiving NELFUND tuition payments.
Important note: Some schools on the list have since denied withholding refunds or said payments are ongoing. Students should therefore treat the list as an accountability claim by NANS, not a final official verdict.
The institutions listed by NANS include:
- Adamawa State University
- Federal Polytechnic Mubi
- Federal College of Education, Yola
- Kaduna State Polytechnic
- Ogun State Institute of Technology
- Federal University Dutsin-Ma
- University of Education, Akamkpa
- University of Uyo
- Yobe State University
- Federal University Lafia
- Modibbo Adama University
- Nasarawa State University
- Federal College of Forestry
- Federal University of Education, Pankshin
- Federal Polytechnic, Nyak
- Plateau State University
- Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi
- Imo State University
- Lagos State University of Education
- Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology
- Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology
- Kano State College of Education and Preliminary Studies
- University of Nigeria
- Ebonyi State University
- Federal College of Education, Katsina
- College of Agriculture, Science and Technology
- Michael Okpara University of Agriculture
- University of Ilesa
- Ogun State Polytechnic of Health and Allied Sciences
- Adekunle Ajasin University
- Delta State University
- Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta
- Ekiti State University
- Federal University Oye-Ekiti
- University of Calabar
- Rivers State University
- Ignatius Ajuru University of Education
- Federal College of Education (Technical), Gombe
- Hassan Usman Katsina Polytechnic
How to Check Your NELFUND Loan Status
Students can check their NELFUND loan status through the official NELFUND portal.
Follow these steps:
- Visit the official NELFUND portal:
https://portal.nelf.gov.ng - Log in with your email and password.
- Open your dashboard.
- Click the loan section.
- Check whether your institutional fee loan has been approved or disbursed.
- If disbursed, download your proof of disbursement where available.
- Take the proof to your school’s NELFUND desk or bursary if you had already paid fees.
How to Check NELFUND Refund Status Through Your School
If your school has opened a refund portal, follow these steps:
- Visit your school’s official NELFUND refund portal.
- Enter your matric number.
- Enter your NELFUND tracking ID.
- Confirm your eligibility.
- Fill in your bank account details.
- Upload proof of payment if requested.
- Submit the application.
- Save your reference number.
- Return to the portal later to check status.
For example, the UI refund portal allows students to apply for refunds and check status using their matric number and tracking ID.
Documents You May Need for NELFUND Refund
Affected students may be asked to provide:
- Matric number
- NELFUND tracking ID
- Proof of school fee payment
- NELFUND disbursement proof
- Bank account number
- Bank name
- Account holder name
- Student ID card
- Payment receipt
- Bank statement, if requested
What Refund Status Means
| Status | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Pending | Your application has been received and is under review |
| Processing | The school is working on your refund |
| Approved | Your refund has been approved for payment |
| Rejected | Your application was not approved, usually due to missing or incorrect records |
| Paid | The refund has been transferred to your bank account |
What To Do If Your School Has Not Refunded You
If you paid fees before NELFUND later paid your institution, do the following:
- Log in to your NELFUND dashboard.
- Confirm that your institutional fee loan was disbursed.
- Download or screenshot your disbursement proof.
- Gather your school fee receipt.
- Visit your school bursary or NELFUND desk.
- Ask if your name is on the refund list.
- Confirm your bank details.
- Follow your school’s refund portal or official process.
- Do not pay any agent to process the refund.
Should Students Pay Anyone for NELFUND Refund?
No student should pay an agent or unofficial person to process a NELFUND refund.
Refunds should be handled through official school channels, bursary departments, NELFUND desk offices or verified school portals.
Students should also avoid fake NELFUND websites. The official NELFUND portal is:
HERE:
NELFUND student loan refunds are becoming a major issue across Nigerian tertiary institutions because many students had already paid school fees before loan disbursements reached their schools.
Some institutions, including UNICAL and EKSU, say refunds are ongoing, while NANS has listed 39 schools it claims are yet to fully refund affected students.
Students are advised to check their NELFUND dashboard, confirm disbursement, gather payment proof and contact their school’s bursary or NELFUND desk for refund processing.


