Government Begins Payment of Outstanding Foreign Scholarships as Nigerian Students Await Relief

(The Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa. Credit: Punch News)

The Federal Government has begun disbursing approved outstanding allowances for 2025 to Nigerian students benefiting from the Bilateral Education Agreement Scholarship Programme who are currently studying in partner countries abroad.

The announcement was made by the Federal Ministry of Education through a statement signed by its Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade, and shared on social media on Wednesday.

According to the statement, the Central Bank of Nigeria has successfully transferred the approved funds to Nigerian embassies and missions in the relevant countries for immediate distribution to eligible scholars.

The Minister of Education, Maruf Alausa, clarified that the released funds represent 50 per cent of the total approved outstanding obligations for 2025, with efforts ongoing to ensure the remaining balance is paid.

He added that the funds had already reached embassy accounts and that affected missions were expected to begin payments immediately. Scholars were advised to keep an eye on their accounts as disbursements begin to reflect.

The BEA programme enables Nigerian students to study in partner countries with financial support from the Nigerian government.

Although the programme has since been discontinued, existing beneficiaries had been raising concerns over prolonged delays in the payment of their allowances.

The latest disbursement is aimed at easing the financial burden on those scholars.

Alausa described the development as a reflection of President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to the welfare and academic progress of Nigerian students abroad, adding that the government remains committed to fulfilling its obligations to scholars and promoting quality education and human capital development.