ATBU Issues Urgent Directive to 2024/2025 NELFund Beneficiaries Regarding Registration and Fee Refunds

The Management of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), through the NELFund Committee, has issued an important notice to all students who applied for the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFund) for the 2024/2025 academic session.

Students whose NELFund portals currently show a “Disbursed” status are officially advised to suspend school registration activities until the portal is fully synchronized.

Portal Activation and New Disbursement Strategy

Following a technical session with the University’s Directorate of Information and Communication Technology (DICT), officials confirmed that the registration portal is expected to be fully activated by tomorrow, January 5, 2026.

In a strategic shift aimed at eliminating administrative bottlenecks, the NELFund Committee Chairman and the Student Union Government (SUG) President have recommended a direct refund policy. Under this proposal, the University Bursary Unit would refund the loan amounts directly to the beneficiaries. This measure is intended to allow students to settle their fees personally, ensuring: 

Instant Portal Reflection: Immediate update of payment status on the school portal.

Seamless Access: Faster processing for hostel bookings and course registrations.

Operational Focus: Allowing the university to transition focus to the ongoing 2025/2026 NELFund application cycle.

The NELFund Desk Officer, Adamu A. Mazadu, emphasized that these proactive measures are part of a broader commitment to resolving the challenges previously labeled as the "NELFund Crisis" within the institution.

"We are committed to strategic engagement in the best interest of students and reaffirm our resolve to end the challenges around NELFund," Mazadu stated, urging the student body—popularly known as Balewites—to remain patient and cooperative during this transition. 

Students are encouraged to monitor their official emails and the university's communication channels for the final confirmation of portal activation.