The Federal Government has dismissed reports alleging that Nigerian students studying in the Kingdom of Morocco under federal scholarship schemes have been abandoned, describing the claims as misleading, unfounded, and deliberately designed to misinform the public.
In a press statement issued on Tuesday by the Federal Ministry of Education, the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, clarified that all Nigerian students legitimately enrolled under the Bilateral Education Scholarship (BES) Programme before 2024 have received their entitlements up to the 2024 budget year.
According to the minister, “No Nigerian student on a valid Federal Government scholarship has been abandoned. All beneficiaries duly enrolled under the Bilateral Education Scholarship Programme prior to 2024 have been paid in line with the government’s obligations.”
Dr. Alausa acknowledged that some outstanding payments experienced delays but explained that these were due to prevailing fiscal constraints affecting public finance. He assured that the matter is being actively resolved through ongoing engagements between the Federal Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Finance.
The minister also categorically denied reports suggesting that new bilateral scholarship awards were made in October 2025 or at any time thereafter. “No new bilateral scholarship awards were issued in October 2025 or beyond. Any documents circulating to suggest otherwise are fake, unauthenticated, and intended to mislead the public,” he stated.
Explaining the policy direction of the current administration, Dr. Alausa said the decision to discontinue government-funded bilateral scholarships abroad followed a comprehensive review of Nigeria’s education capacity. He noted that Nigerian universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education now possess adequate facilities and expertise to deliver most of the programmes previously pursued overseas.
“As a country, we have reached a point where sponsoring students abroad for courses that are well-established locally is no longer sustainable or justifiable,” the minister explained, adding that such practices placed unnecessary financial pressure on public resources.
He further disclosed that under the revised policy, Nigeria will now only participate in bilateral scholarship programmes that are fully funded by foreign governments, with host countries bearing the entire financial responsibility for tuition, accommodation, and welfare.
Despite the policy shift, the minister stressed that the Federal Government remains committed to students already enrolled under previous arrangements. “We will continue to support all affected students until they complete their programmes. Our responsibility to them has not changed,” he said.
Dr. Alausa also revealed that students who wish to discontinue their studies abroad have been given the option of returning home. He explained that such students can formally apply to the Director of the Department of Scholarship Awards and will be reintegrated into suitable Nigerian tertiary institutions.
“The Federal Government will also cover their return travel costs to ensure a smooth and dignified transition,” he added, noting that the option was introduced to protect students’ academic progress and personal welfare.
Addressing concerns about transparency, the minister said the reforms were aimed at eliminating inefficiencies and abuses that had characterised the scholarship system in the past. “We are determined to end practices that drained national resources without commensurate benefits,” he said.
He emphasised that the ongoing reforms are designed to strengthen accountability, improve resource management, and align scholarship funding with Nigeria’s long-term educational and economic priorities.
The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Education, reaffirmed its commitment to the welfare of Nigerian students both at home and abroad, reiterating that policies being implemented are intended to build national capacity rather than undermine educational opportunities.
Concluding the statement, the ministry warned against the spread of misinformation and attempts to discredit government policy through false narratives. “We strongly reject blackmail, misinformation, and any effort to undermine reforms aimed at protecting the integrity of Nigeria’s education sector,” the statement signed by the Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade, read.
