The Federal Government announced on Tuesday the cancellation of the Bilateral Education Agreement scholarship program, describing it as an unsustainable and inefficient use of public funds.
The decision follows months of complaints by stranded Nigerian scholars abroad who accused the government of failing to meet its financial obligations under the scheme.
Established through diplomatic agreements with countries such as China, Russia, Algeria, Hungary, Morocco, Egypt, and Serbia, the BEA programme had allowed hundreds of Nigerian students to pursue higher education overseas on government sponsorship.
Despite recent assurances by the Federal Government that all supplementary allowances had been paid up to December 2024, with further funds requested to cover outstanding entitlements affected by exchange rate fluctuations, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, announced a definitive end to the programme.
Speaking during a courtesy visit by newly elected officials of the National Association of Nigerian Students, Alausa said the government would redirect BEA funding to domestic scholarship programmes to reach a broader number of students across the country.
“In 2024, when I assumed office, I was asked to approve N650m for 60 students going to Morocco under the BEA programme. I refused. It’s not fair to Nigerian students,” Alausa said.
The minister cited examples of students studying disciplines like English, psychology, and sociology in countries where those subjects are not taught in Nigeria’s primary languages, arguing that such programmes are more efficiently and effectively delivered by local universities.
“I reviewed the courses—some students went to Algeria, a French-speaking country, to study English. That is simply illogical. These are courses we teach better in Nigeria,” he said.
Alausa also expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of oversight and performance monitoring under the BEA, noting that the government sponsors annual travel for scholars without tracking their academic progress.
“In 2025 alone, we projected N9bn to fund just 1,200 students abroad. Meanwhile, millions of students in Nigeria get no support. It’s unjust and unsustainable,” the minister stated. “We have evaluated every single course these 1,200 students are studying abroad—every one of them is offered in Nigerian universities.”
He confirmed that while current BEA beneficiaries will be supported to complete their programmes, the scheme will not accept new admissions beyond 2025.
“This programme is not the best use of public funds. That money will now be used to fund local scholarships and support more students,” Alausa concluded.
In response, the newly elected NANS President, Olushola Oladoja, praised the minister for his forthrightness and the reforms introduced since he took office.
