The Federal Government has commenced the disbursement of approved outstanding 2025 allowances to beneficiaries of the Bilateral Education Agreement (BEA) scholarship programme studying abroad.…....
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television on May 13, Tunji Alausa, minister of education, said the government currently has N4 billion outstanding obligations having initially disbursed N4 billion to the Nigerian students under the BEA scholarship programme.
In a statement on Wednesday, Boriowo Folasade, director of press and public relations, said the ministry the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has successfully remitted the approved funds to Nigerian embassies and missions for immediate disbursement to eligible scholars.
“The Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, CON, stated that the released funds represent 50 percent of the approved outstanding obligations for 2025, while efforts are ongoing to facilitate payment of the balance,” the statement reads.
“According to the Minister, the funds have already reached embassy accounts, and affected missions are expected to begin immediate payments to beneficiaries.”
The ministry advised scholars to monitor their accounts as the payments begin to reflect.
The education ministry said the development demonstrates President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to the welfare and academic success of Nigerian students abroad.
The ministry further reaffirmed the government’s commitment to fulfilling its obligations to Nigerian scholars and sustaining policies that promote quality education, student welfare, and national human capital development.
The BEA programme was established decades ago through diplomatic agreements with countries including China, Russia, Algeria, Hungary, Morocco, Egypt and Serbia to give hundreds of Nigerian students access to higher education overseas.
Signatory countries give annual scholarship slots to Nigeria’s federal scholarship board, which then proceeds to nominate indigenous applicants by merit.
The host country undertakes to cover tuition and provide housing for the scholars, while Nigeria pays the awardees a yearly allowance of $200 for health insurance, $500 annually for medicals, and $500 in a monthly stipend for nutrition, books, equipment, and transport.
However, last year, the FG discontinued the programme for new applicants due to allegations of fraud and a departure from its original purpose.
It was reported that the government of Nigeria defaulted on paying the $500 stipend for one year, leaving young students stranded abroad.
Over the years, BEA scholars have also perennially accused the federal government of abandoning them, generating media discourse that prompted the summoning of a former education minister to the national assembly.
