The Federal Government on Tuesday denied reports that Nigerian students on scholarship in the Kingdom of Morocco had been abandoned.
The clarification is contained in a statement issued in Abuja by the Director of Press and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Education, Mrs Folasade Boriowo. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the statement was issued in response to reports alleging neglect of Nigerian students studying in Morocco under government-sponsored scholarships.
Minister Clarifies Status of Students
The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, said no Nigerian student on a valid Federal Government scholarship had been abandoned. He said all beneficiaries admitted under the Bilateral Education Scholarship (BES) Programme before 2024 had received their entitlements up to the 2024 budget year.
According to the minister, outstanding payments were delayed due to fiscal constraints and were being addressed through discussions between the Federal Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Finance.
“Any temporary delays in outstanding payments are attributable to fiscal constraints and are currently being addressed through ongoing engagements between the Federal Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Finance,” Alausa said.
He assured the affected students that the government would fulfil its commitments.
Claims of New Scholarships Dismissed
Alausa also dismissed claims that new bilateral scholarship awards were approved in October 2025 or afterwards. He said no such approvals were granted and described documents circulating in support of the claims as fake and unauthenticated.
He said the documents did not originate from the ministry and should be disregarded by the public.
Government Policy on Overseas Scholarships
The minister said the Federal Government had discontinued funding for bilateral education scholarships abroad following a policy review. He explained that the review showed Nigerian tertiary institutions now had the capacity to offer the programmes previously studied overseas.
He said only scholarships fully funded by foreign governments would continue, with all financial obligations borne by the host countries.
“Notwithstanding this policy shift, the Federal Government remains fully committed to students already enrolled under the previous arrangements and will continue to support them until the completion of their programmes,” he said.
Return Option for Interested Students
Alausa said students who wished to discontinue their studies abroad could apply to return to Nigeria. He said such students would be placed in suitable institutions within the country, while the government would cover their return travel costs.
He added that the Ministry of Education would continue reforms of the scholarship system and cautioned against the spread of misinformation on government education programmes.
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