The Federal Government has officially scrapped the Bilateral Education Agreement (BEA) scholarship programme, labeling it a misuse of public resources.
This decision comes amid complaints from former beneficiaries who accused the government of abandonment. The BEA programme, which operated through diplomatic partnerships, enabled Nigerian students to study in countries such as China, Russia, Algeria, Hungary, Morocco, Egypt, and Serbia.
In recent months, the government affirmed that all supplementary allowances for Nigerian scholars had been paid up to December 2024. It also appealed for understanding, revealing that additional funds had been requested to clear outstanding payments affected by exchange rate volatility.
Despite these efforts, the Minister of Education, Maruf Tunji Alausa, on Tuesday declared the government's decision to terminate the scheme. He expressed concern over what he termed “blackmail” by some BEA scholars on social media.
During a courtesy visit by newly elected officials of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Alausa explained that the funds would be redirected to support more students through local scholarship initiatives.
“In 2024, shortly after assuming office, I was asked to approve N650 million for 60 students bound for Morocco under the BEA programme. I declined. That allocation was unfair to the broader student population in Nigeria,” the minister stated.
He further criticized the rationale behind some of the placements. “Some students were sent to Algeria, a French-speaking country, to study English, Psychology, and Sociology—programmes we already offer with better quality here in Nigeria,” he said.
Alausa confirmed that all outstanding scholarship payments would be settled by the end of 2024, with pending 2025 allocations to be paid once the budget is finalized. However, he stressed that the BEA scheme would not continue beyond 2025.
He also decried the absence of academic supervision for beneficiaries and noted that the government even funded annual travel for scholars without monitoring their academic performance.
“In 2025 alone, the government planned to spend N9 billion on just 1,200 students. That’s not equitable, especially when millions of Nigerian students receive no financial support,” he said.
According to the minister, an assessment revealed that all the courses pursued by BEA scholars abroad are available in Nigerian universities. “We are ending the BEA. It is not the best use of public funds. That money will now fund local scholarships and reach more students,” Alausa added.
He assured that current BEA beneficiaries would be supported until they complete their studies, but clarified that no new students would be admitted into the programme from 2025 onwards.
Earlier in the meeting, NANS President Olushola Oladoja commended the minister for the positive strides taken since he assumed office.
ADEOLA KUNLE
