The federal government has dismissed reports suggesting that Nigerian students on scholarship in the Kingdom of Morocco have been abandoned, describing such claims as false, misleading, and deliberately designed to misinform the public.
The clarification was issued on Wednesday by the Minister of Education, Maruf Alausa, who stated that no Nigerian student enrolled under a valid federal government scholarship has been neglected.
The minister disclosed that all beneficiaries admitted under the Bilateral Education Scholarship (BES) Programme before 2024 have received their entitlements up to the 2024 budget cycle, in line with the government’s obligations.
He explained that any temporary delays in outstanding payments were due to prevailing fiscal constraints and are currently being addressed through ongoing engagements between the Federal Ministry of Education and the Federal Ministry of Finance.
Alausa further clarified that no new bilateral scholarship awards were granted in October 2025 or thereafter, stressing that documents circulating online to suggest otherwise are fake, unauthenticated, and intended to discredit government policy.
The minister revealed that the decision to discontinue government-funded bilateral scholarships abroad followed a comprehensive policy review, which concluded that Nigeria now has adequate capacity within its universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education to deliver the affected programmes locally.
As a result, only scholarships fully funded by foreign governments are now being supported, with all financial responsibilities borne entirely by host countries.
Despite the policy shift, the federal government reaffirmed its commitment to students already enrolled under previous arrangements, assuring that they will continue to receive full support until the completion of their programmes.
In addition, students who wish to discontinue their studies abroad have been advised to formally apply to the director, department of scholarship awards.
Read Also:
- FG inaugurates committee to train One Million Nigerians in digital skills, targets 95% literacy by 2030
- FG to start full implementation of YEIDEP in February 2026
- FG launches LG proof of address, replaces utility bills nationwide
Such students will be allowed to return to Nigeria and be seamlessly integrated into suitable tertiary institutions of their choice.
The government, the minister added, will also cover return travel expenses to ensure a smooth transition.
Alausa noted that the ongoing reforms are part of broader efforts to eliminate inefficiencies and abuses within the scholarship system, stressing that past practices of sponsoring overseas studies for courses readily available in Nigeria placed unnecessary financial strain on public resources.
He said the reforms are aimed at promoting transparency, accountability, and prudent management of public funds, while strengthening Nigeria’s domestic educational capacity.
The federal government reiterated its commitment to the welfare of Nigerian students and strongly rejected what it described as misinformation, blackmail, and attempts to undermine policies designed to protect the integrity of the education sector.
