The hardship facing Nigerian scholars under the Bilateral Education Agreement (BEA) in Morocco has once again ignited public outrage after popular influencer, Pooja, shared a disturbing encounter he had during the Nigeria vs. Gabon match. His narration, posted on his official X handle, has drawn national attention to what many describe as a deepening humanitarian crisis.
According to Pooja, he was walking across the pitch at halftime when he noticed several spectators holding placards with his name boldly written. Initially, he joked to himself about having a “Pooja Nation in Morocco,” but soon realized the situation was far more serious than fan admiration.
The influencer explained that the group consisted of Nigerian students studying in Morocco under the Federal Government’s BEA scholarship. These students, he was told, had been abandoned for more than 15 months without receiving their stipends, a development that has pushed many of them into severe hardship.
Pooja revealed that one of the students informed him that their situation had already led to tragedy. A scholar reportedly died from an illness that could have been treated if he had access to adequate medical care, care he could not afford due to the prolonged non-payment of allowances.
He expressed deep concern over what he described as an avoidable loss, saying he felt compelled to use his platform to seek help for the stranded students. Pooja urged the relevant government agencies to intervene urgently and restore dignity to the affected scholars.
In his post, he appealed to Nigerians on social media to amplify the message so it could reach officials responsible for the welfare of BEA scholars. He included direct tags to key government accounts, emphasizing that the issue had been reported repeatedly without meaningful action.
The influencer also highlighted that the problem extends beyond Morocco. Students in Russia and other countries under the same scheme are also reportedly battling the same backlog, with some claiming up to two years of unpaid stipends.
The situation has exposed many of the scholars to dire living conditions, with several unable to afford rent, feeding, transportation, or medical care. The lack of financial support has also left some emotionally distressed, fearing for their safety in foreign countries.
A particularly troubling concern is the growing number of students whose passports and visas have expired because they lack the funds to renew them. Pooja noted that many of these scholars are now unable to return home, effectively trapped abroad with no help in sight.
Compounding the problem, some officials at the Nigerian Embassy in Morocco have allegedly been demanding as much as $400 from students seeking to renew their passports. The claim, which has sparked fresh outrage, suggests that students already struggling with unpaid stipends are being pushed deeper into crisis by those meant to assist them.
Student advocacy groups have repeatedly called on the Federal Government to resolve the backlog, arguing that Nigeria’s international reputation is at stake. They stress that scholarship agreements should reflect the country’s commitment to education, not expose its brightest minds to suffering and neglect.
For months, reports of unpaid scholarships have circulated across Nigerian media spaces, yet the situation remains unresolved. Families back home, many of whom cannot afford to sponsor their children independently, continue to express fear and frustration over their welfare abroad.
The Nigeria Education News understands that hundreds of Nigerian BEA scholars are currently stranded in various countries, with Morocco emerging as the most severely affected due to the prolonged delay in payments. Observers have argued that such neglect undermines the core purpose of the scholarship scheme.
Pooja, in closing his appeal, described the entire situation as “heartbreaking” and “unacceptable.” He urged authorities to honor their obligations immediately to prevent further tragedies among students who embarked on these programs with hopes of academic advancement.
As the post continues to gather traction online, Nigerians are calling on officials at the Ministry of Education, the Federal Scholarship Board, and the Presidency to take immediate action. The plight of the scholars, now brought to national attention, remains a test of the government’s commitment to its young citizens studying abroad.
